Just Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities in Renewable Energy (EBT) Development
Samarinda - On the third day of the 2025 International Sustainable Week (ISEW) forum, Wahyu Gatut Purboyo again gave a presentation raising the issue of Renewable Energy for Regional Growth: Challenges and Opportunities in East Kalimantan on the third day of ISEW at Mulawarman University, on Thursday (16/10).
Wahyu Gatut emphasized the importance of accelerating the energy transition in East Kalimantan as part of Indonesia's commitment to reducing carbon emissions as quickly as possible and maintaining global temperature warming in accordance with the Paris Agreement in 2015 at the International Conference COP21.
Based on the 2025–2045 East Kalimantan Regional Long Term Development Plan (RPJPD), the renewable energy mix target is planned to reach 79 percent in 2045, a significant increase from the achievement of 12.14 percent in 2024. This target is expected to be achieved through increasing the use of potential renewable energy such as biodiesel, biomass, and the development of solar and hydro power plants in various regions.
Of course, on the way to achieving the targets set, East Kalimantan will face several challenges. Challenges in developing New Renewable Energy (EBT) include the need for large investments, a renewable energy economy that is not yet competitive, and incentives for producers and users of EBT that are not yet optimal. However, he believes that the opportunities for developing clean energy in East Kalimantan are very large, including the use of ex-mining land for floating Solar Power Plants (PLTS), the development of biomass from wood and palm oil to support the Indonesian Capital City (IKN), as well as the creation of green jobs (green jobs) in the future.
Of course Green Jobs must also be accompanied with Green Skills. So the potential of young people must be developed optimally so that this effort becomes game changer to realize Golden Indonesia 2045. The source Human resources (HR) which are the capital to support green jobs include youth who have skills in technology, are innovative and adaptive. They must become initiators in driving the green economy through the development of renewable energy technology, environmentally friendly service/product businesses, organic farming businesses and involvement in reducing carbon footprints.
Efforts to encourage green jobs have been implemented by the East Kalimantan Provincial Government in collaboration with the Employment Directorate of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas through the GESIT project. Bappeda has prepared various crucial documents that are needed, such as energy transition-based economic transformation documents, East Kalimantan documents based on a green economy, and documents related to green jobs.
However, all this planning will not work well without collaboration between sectors. This step must be accompanied by good cooperation between government, the private sector, institutions, educational units, trade unions, business actors, media, organizations and also the community. Therefore, to speed up its implementation, a Regional Consultation Forum (FKD) was formed which involved every actor involved. This forum not only functions as a planning forum, but also as monitoring and evaluating the acceleration of energy transformation in East Kalimantan.
Through the ISEW Forum, it is hoped that we can provide an in-depth understanding regarding the energy transition and green jobs to realize sustainable regional development and achieve the common goal of a Golden Indonesia in 2045 .
Author: Suci Ashari
Editor: Hasti
