Jakarta (ANTARA) - The number of rooftop solar panel users reached 4,262, with the total electricity produced touching 39.28 MWp (Megawatts-peak) as of September 2021, a member of the Indonesian National Energy Council (DEN) has highlighted.

"Most rooftop solar panel users are scattered in West Java, followed by Jakarta, Central Java, and Yogyakarta," Satya Widya Yudha informed at the Asia Solar Forum hosted by the Indonesian Renewable Energy Society (METI), according to an official statement received in Jakarta on Friday.

Energy transition must continue until new and renewable energy completely replaces fossil-based energy, he opined.

"Indonesia would strive to accelerate the development of new and renewable energy, such as electric vehicles, smart grid, smart energy, and energy conservation technology," he said.

President Joko Widodo, during COP 26 in Glasgow, committed to supporting the development of the electric vehicle industry, a green industrial park in North Kalimantan, and the largest solar power plant in Southeast Asia, Yudha pointed out.

"President Jokowi reiterated that international support and contributions from developed countries are necessary to achieve our mission in green technology development," he stated.

Indonesia's nationally determined contribution (NDC) in the energy sector reached 64.4 million tons by 2020, which was higher than the target of 58 million tons set earlier, the DEN member noted.

"Utilization of new and renewable energy enabled us to reduce up to 34 million tons of emissions, and energy efficiency could further reduce 12.9 million tons of emissions. Besides, the utilization of low-carbon fuel contributed to the decrease of 8.3 million tons, clean power technology 5.9 million tons, and other efforts taken to reduce emissions successfully diminished around 2.7 million tons of emissions," Yudha expounded.

Meanwhile, Nizhar Marizi, who represented the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) at the event, confirmed that the authority has conceived a regulation that requires new structures to install solar panels.

He informed that government-owned buildings are now required to cover a minimum of 30 percent of the total roof area with solar panels, while commercial buildings are required to cover at least 25 percent of the roof area.

"We are prioritizing rooftop solar panel installation as one of the most affordable methods in our pursuit to develop new and renewable energy," Marizi said.

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Translator: Kelik Dewanto, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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