Automotive Industry Becomes The Most Relevant Sector In Renewable Energy Adoption

JAKARTA - Automotive expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) Yannes Martinus Pasaribu assesses the automotive industry as a relevant sector in terms of renewable energy adoption. "The use of renewable energy in the automotive industry is a very relevant step that is currently being intensified. The automotive industry is currently transforming towards more environmentally friendly and high-performance vehicles," Yannes said, quoted from Antara, Thursday, August 17. Electric vehicles, which are part of a sustainable mobility solution, rely on renewable energy sources to charge batteries. Yannes assesses that by utilizing renewable energy such as water or solar in the electric production process for the battery needs of electric vehicles, Indonesia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Yannes added that the use of renewable energy as an electricity producer can also slowly reduce 61 percent of electricity sources from coal steam power plants that are polyutive.

"(Utilization of renewable energy) reduces slowly to 61 percent of Indonesia's electricity sources from coal power plants which are even though cheap, but, very positive, which seems not in line with the logic of the purpose of EV development (electric vehicle) if it is intended as a clean vehicle for pollution," said Yannes.

He mentioned that the most economical strategy to develop the use of renewable energy in Indonesia could involve several long-term transitional steps, for example starting to gradually reduce the capacity of coal power plants and replacing them with renewable energy sources. Indonesia can take advantage of renewable and environmentally friendly alternative energy such as solar power and geothermal. To implement this strategy, according to Yannes, strong commitment is needed from the government, the private sector, and the community because the use of renewable energy to replace coal as an energy source of power generation facilities is a complex process. "Of course, renegotiation is needed with foreign giant investors who will certainly require very complex political efforts," Yannes said.

President Joko Widodo in a speech at the MPR Annual Session and the Joint Session of the DPR and DPD in 2023, Wednesday (16/8), touched on the role of the green economy and downstreaming through the use of renewable energy to develop the new economic sector. He assessed that the role of the green economy and downstreaming could be exploited as opportunities for Indonesia because of the wealth of natural resources, including the abundant new renewable energy sources.

"The economy is green and downstream as our window opportunity to achieve progress because Indonesia is very rich in natural resources including mineral materials, plantation products, marine products, as well as new and renewable energy sources," said the President.