Optimal Integration of Renewable Energy, Energy Storage, and Indonesia’s Super Grid

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.