As an archipelagic nation, Indonesia has tremendous renewable energy potential in its seas, including tidal energy.
Compared to other renewable energy sources, tidal energy stands out for its consistent power supply, as it does not depend on weather conditions like sunlight or wind.
However, despite its many advantages, the implementation of tidal energy faces several challenges, particularly in terms of technology, investment costs, and supporting infrastructure.
What Is Tidal Energy?
Tidal energy is a form of renewable energy generated from the movement of seawater, both vertically (rising and falling tides) and horizontally (tidal currents).
These movements occur due to the combined gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun, along with the rotational effects of the Earth.
Tidal phenomena naturally occur twice daily, and this mass movement of water contains significant kinetic and potential energy.
Since seawater has a much higher density than air, even slow-moving currents can generate far more energy than wind turbines operating at comparable speeds.
This is why tidal energy is considered one of the most promising renewable sources for the future.
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How Does It Work?
The basic principle is similar to that of a dam, utilizing the difference in water levels or currents to drive turbines that generate electricity. Tidal energy is highly predictable, as tidal patterns remain consistent daily.
There are several main methods for harnessing it:
- Tidal barrage: A dam holds seawater during high tide and releases it through turbines during low tide.
- Tidal stream: Underwater turbines are directly driven by tidal currents.
- Dynamic tidal power: A long dam extends into the ocean to create a difference in water height and produce electricity.
Each method has unique mechanisms and technological needs, adapted to local geography and current strength.
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The Status of Tidal Energy Development in Indonesia
Currently, the development of ocean energy in Indonesia, including tidal, current, and wave energy, is still in the early research and pilot phase.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and the Marine Geological Survey and Mapping Center, initial mapping across 17 strategic maritime locations estimates Indonesia’s total marine energy potential at around 60 GW.
Indonesia’s geographic characteristics, a long coastline and numerous narrow straits with strong tidal flows, make it one of the countries with the greatest potential for ocean energy in the world.
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What Are the Advantages of Tidal Energy?
Tidal energy offers several key advantages over other renewable sources:
- This energy is clean and environmentally friendly because it produces no direct carbon emissions.
- Tidal energy is predictable and reliable, as tidal cycles can be forecast with high accuracy years in advance.
- Its source is inexhaustible, driven by the natural movements of the ocean.
- The energy supply is stable and unaffected by weather conditions.
- It has the potential for baseload generation, providing a consistent energy output.
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What Are the Drawbacks?
Despite its potential, tidal energy faces notable challenges:
- High initial investment costs and long construction periods.
- Equipment must withstand high pressure and corrosion in seawater.
- Maintenance and replacement costs are substantial.
- Limited global deployment, still in pilot or early commercialization stages.
- Effective only in regions with large tidal ranges or strong currents, restricting its application to specific coastal areas.
Overall, the development of tidal energy requires continuous technological innovation and supportive policies to make it economically competitive with other renewables.
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The Role of LNG in Bridging Tidal Energy’s Limitations
While tidal energy holds great potential, not all regions are suitable for its implementation, and its distribution network remains limited.
Therefore, a reliable transitional solution is needed to maintain energy stability, and this is where Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plays a crucial role.
LNG offers flexibility and accessibility. It can be stored and transported easily, even to remote areas lacking marine energy infrastructure.
This makes LNG an effective bridge fuel, ensuring a stable electricity supply while tidal and other renewable sources are further developed. In addition to reliability, LNG provides significant environmental advantages over coal and oil.
Its combustion emits less CO₂ and produces negligible sulfur dioxide (SO₂), fine particulates, or ash residues, making it a much cleaner energy option aligned with Indonesia’s decarbonization goals.
References:
- Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). Accessed 2025. Mapping Indonesia’s Ocean Potential: 17 Sites Reaching 60 GW
- Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM). Accessed 2025. Indonesia’s Marine Energy Potential
- Ocean Energy Systems.Accessed 2025. Tidal Barrages Technology
- IRENA. Accessed 2025. Tidal Energy Technology Brief
