As the global transition toward sustainable energy gains momentum, integrating electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage, and renewable energy sources has become a pivotal strategy. This paper analyses the interplay between EVs, energy storage, and renewable energy integration with Indonesia’s grid as a test case. A comprehensive energy system modeling approach using PLEXOS is presented, using historical data on electricity generation, hourly demand, and renewable energy, and multiple scenarios of charging patterns and EV adoption. Through a series of scenarios, we evaluate the impact of different charging strategies and EV penetration levels on generation capacity, battery storage requirements, total system cost, renewable energy penetration, and emissions reduction. The findings reveal that optimized charging patterns and higher EV adoption rates, compared to no EVs adoption, led to substantial improvements in renewable energy utilization (+4%), emissions reduction (−12.8%), and overall system cost (−9%). While EVs contribute to reduced emissions compared to conventional vehicles, non-optimized charging behavior may lead to higher total emissions when compared to scenarios without EVs. The research also found the potential of vehicle to grid (V2G) to reduce the need for battery storage compared to zero EV (−84%), to reduce emissions significantly (−23.7%), and boost penetration of renewable energy (+10%). This research offers valuable insights for policymakers, energy planners, and stakeholders seeking to leverage the synergies between EVs and renewable energy integration to pursue a sustainable energy future for Indonesia.

This paper examines the optimal integration of renewable energy (RE) sources, energy storage technologies, and linking Indonesia’s islands with a high-capacity transmission “super grid”, utilizing the PLEXOS 10 R.02 simulation tool to achieve the country’s goal of 100% RE by 2060. Through detailed scenario analysis, the research demonstrates that by 2050, Indonesia could be on track to meet this target, with 62% of its energy generated from RE sources. Solar PV could play a dominant role, contributing 363 GW, or 72.3% of the total installed capacity out of over 500 GW. The study highlights that lithium-ion batteries, particularly with 4 h of storage, were identified as the most suitable energy storage option across various scenarios, supporting over 1000 GWh of storage capacity. The introduction of a super grid is shown to reduce the average energy generation cost to around USD 91/MWh from the current USD 98/MWh. These findings underscore the potential of a strategic combination of RE, optimized energy storage, and grid enhancements to significantly lower costs and enhance energy security, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders for Indonesia’s transition to a sustainable energy future.