Indonesia has vast wind energy potential, especially in the eastern regions such as Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, and parts of Java.
This potential is now beginning to take shape through the development of wind power plants that have started operating in several areas, such as Sidrap and Jeneponto in South Sulawesi.
The growth of wind energy brings a fresh breeze to Indonesia’s energy transition, providing an additional clean energy source beyond coal and oil.
But is wind energy strong enough to replace the dominance of fossil fuels? Let’s dive into the facts.
What Is Wind Energy?
Wind energy, also known as bayu energy in Indonesian, is one of the most promising forms of renewable energy.
Simply put, wind energy comes from the movement of air masses in the atmosphere, caused by uneven solar heating of the Earth’s surface. These differences in temperature and pressure create airflows that carry large amounts of kinetic energy.
This kinetic energy is then converted into electricity using wind turbines, devices that harness the power of the wind to spin their blades and drive a generator.
The process produces clean electricity without generating carbon emissions, making wind energy a key pillar in building a sustainable clean energy system.
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How Does Wind Energy Work?
The conversion of wind into electricity takes place at Wind Power Plants, which rely on large-scale turbine systems.
When the wind blows, the rotor blades capture kinetic energy from the moving air and begin to spin. This slow rotation is transmitted to a main shaft and then to a gearbox, which increases the rotation speed hundreds of times.
The resulting mechanical energy spins a generator, producing electricity. That electricity is then sent to a transformer, which raises the voltage before it’s transmitted to the national power grid.
All of this occurs without burning fossil fuels, meaning the entire process produces electricity with zero direct carbon emissions.
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Wind Energy vs. Fossil Fuels in Indonesia’s National Energy Mix
Indonesia’s wind energy potential is substantial. But how does it compare to fossil fuels in the national energy mix? Let’s look at the numbers.
Wind Energy Contribution
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Indonesia’s total wind energy potential reaches 154.6 GW, consisting of 60.4 GW onshore and 94.2 GW offshore.
However, as of 2024, the installed capacity of wind power plants is still limited, around 152.3 MW.
In the national primary energy mix, ESDM does not specify the share of each renewable source, including wind.
Still, official data show that the overall share of renewables reached 14.65% in 2024, which includes wind power as part of the mix.
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Fossil Energy Contribution
Based on ESDM data for 2024, Indonesia’s primary energy mix remains dominated by fossil fuels, with the following breakdown:
- Coal: 40.37%
- Oil: 28.82%
- Natural Gas: 16.17%
In the electricity sector, ESDM’s 2024 report shows total installed power generation capacity of around 100.69 GW, with about 85% coming from fossil-fuel-based plants such as coal, gas, and diesel.
This confirms that Indonesia’s reliance on fossil fuels remains high, despite ongoing efforts by the government to accelerate the clean energy transition.
In conclusion, wind energy’s contribution to the national energy mix remains small and has yet to become a major source of electricity generation.
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What Are the Advantages of Wind Energy Compared to Fossil Fuels?
Wind energy offers significant advantages, making it one of the main pillars of a clean energy future.
Wind turbines generate electricity without direct carbon emissions. They produce power without combustion, releasing no greenhouse gases (GHGs) or air pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ).
Because it comes from naturally moving air, wind energy is renewable and inexhaustible.
In addition, its long-term operating costs are much lower than fossil fuel plants. After installation, turbines require no fuel and minimal maintenance.
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What Are the Drawbacks of Wind Energy?
Despite its vast potential, wind energy still faces challenges that limit its global adoption.
Wind turbines can only operate efficiently in areas with consistent and sufficient wind speeds, meaning not all regions are suitable for wind farms.
Wind power is intermittent. When the wind weakens, electricity generation drops sharply. This makes wind energy unsuitable as a baseload power source without additional support technologies.
Moreover, wind farm development requires high upfront investment, from turbine procurement and tower construction to transmission grid connections.
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How Does LNG Help Address Wind Energy’s Limitations?
One of the biggest challenges in harnessing wind power is the intermittent nature of electricity generation when the wind doesn’t blow.
This condition demands a stable and flexible baseload energy source, and that’s where Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plays a vital role.
LNG serves as an ideal solution for balancing renewable-based power systems. Gas-fired power plants using LNG can act as peaker plants or backup power, capable of ramping up quickly when electricity output from wind or solar plants drops.
This flexibility makes LNG a strategic partner for renewables in maintaining grid reliability.
Beyond system stability, LNG also offers major environmental advantages over solid fossil fuels like coal:
- Lower CO₂ emissions, supporting national greenhouse gas reduction targets.
- Near-zero sulfur (SOx) and particulate emissions are reducing air pollution.
In Indonesia, LNG infrastructure continues to expand rapidly. The development of Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRU) and regasification terminals across the archipelago has made gas distribution to power plants and industries more efficient.
With all these advantages, LNG stands out as the most realistic transition fuel. Integrating wind energy and LNG can create a cleaner, more flexible, and sustainable energy system, while reducing Indonesia’s dependence on coal.
References:
- Kementerian ESDM. Accessed 2025. Saatnya Kembangkan PLTB di Indonesia
- Kementerian ESDM. Accessed 2025. Semester I Tahun 2025, Kapasitas Terpasang Pembangkit Meningkat 4,4 GW
- Kementerian ESDM. Accessed 2025. Terbitkan HEESI 2024, Kementerian ESDM Tegaskan Pentingnya Data Energi Terpadu
- Renewable Energy Indonesia. Accessed 2025. Kapasitas Pembangkit Listrik EBT Capai 13.155 MW Pada 2023
- IEA. Accessed 2025. Global Renewable Capacity Is Set to Grow Strongly, Driven by Solar PV
- Genienergi. Accessed 2025. Peran Gas Alam dalam Transisi Energi Indonesia
