Solar needs to dethrone coal to meet Indonesia goals: study

This photo taken in 2013, shows a barge on the river of Mahakam to load coal from the mining area in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. - AFP

JAKARTA (Bloomberg): Solar power holds the key to meeting renewable energy targets for Indonesia, but the fast-growing South-East Asian economy needs significant reforms to steer it away from an over-reliance on coal, according to a report.

The sprawling archipelago is targeting for renewables to make up 23% of its energy needs by 2025, a task that could be met by 18 gigawatts of solar-panel systems, according to a report jointly published by BloombergNEF, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Indonesia’s Institute for Essential Services Reform on Thursday (Sept 9).