Agrivoltaics systems in Indonesia: Opportunities, challenges, and lessons from other countries

Indonesia, with its large population and rapid economic growth, is facing equally important issues of food and energy security. While Indonesia is also committed to achieving net zero emissions (NZE) by 2060 or sooner, it remains heavily dependent on fossil energy at 87%. Yet Indonesia has enormous renewable energy potential, with solar energy having the greatest potential with an estimated 3,294 gigawatt-peak (GWp). This research reviews and summarizes the development of agrivoltaics research in Indonesia and compares it with the development of agrivoltaics research globally to see the opportunities, challenges, and lessons from countries that have developed agrivoltaics in an advanced and extensive manner. The results indicate that the number of agrivoltaics research studies in Indonesia remains very limited, highlighting the need to encourage further research with a focus on crop compatibility and strategic crops. Studies have shown that potato, tomato, and garlic, which are classified as strategic crops in Indonesia, are well-suited for cultivation under agrivoltaics systems. This compatibility enables the simultaneous optimization of the country’s substantial solar energy potential alongside sustainable food production. Agrivoltaics minimizes massive land requirements to avoid competition with agricultural land, increase land use efficiency, and reduce the potential for deforestation. However, agrivoltaics has the potential to reduce agricultural productivity and it is costly, requiring proper planning and selection of appropriate crops, as well as policy and financial support. In addition, agrivoltaics also has the potential to increase the efficiency of solar panels due to the placement of plants, thus reducing the temperature around solar panels.