Solar photovoltaics (PVs) and wind constitute more than 60% of global annual net new capacity additions. Balancing an electricity system with 30–100% variable PV and wind is straightforward using off-the-shelf techniques comprising stronger interconnection over large areas to smooth out local weather, storage, demand management, and occasional spillage of renewable electricity. The overwhelming dominance of PV, wind, and hydroelectricity in new renewable energy deployment means that renewable electricity is tracking toward near equivalence with renewable energy. A global survey of off-river (closed-loop) pumped hydro energy storage sites identified 616 000 promising sites around the world with a combined storage capacity of 23 million GWh, which is two orders of magnitude more than required to support 100% global renewable electricity. This is significant because pumped hydro storage is the lowest cost storage method and is available off-the-shelf in large scale. Australia is deploying PV and wind at a rate of 250 W per year per capita, which is four to five times faster than in the European Union, the USA, Japan, and China. This is significant because it demonstrates that rapid deployment of PV and wind is feasible, with consequent rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

In this paper, we conclude that Indonesia has vast potential for generating and balancing solar photovoltaic (PV) energy to meet future energy needs at a competitive cost. We systematically analyse renewable energy potential in Indonesia. Solar PV is identified to be an energy source whose technical, environmental and economic potential far exceeds Indonesia’s present and future energy requirements and is far larger than all other renewable energy resources combined. We estimate that electricity consumption in Indonesia could reach 9000 terawatt-hours per year by 2050, which is 30 times larger than at present. Indonesia has abundant space to deploy enough solar to meet this requirement, including on rooftops, inland reservoirs, mining wasteland, and in combination with agriculture. Importantly, Indonesia has a vast maritime area that almost never experiences strong winds or large waves that could host floating solar capable of generating >200,000 terawatt-hours per year. Indonesia also has far more off-river pumped hydro energy storage potential than required for balancing solar generation.