Advancing Indonesia’s Energy and Digital Future from Electricity Connect 2025
A group photo taken after the Energy Transition Roundtable, featuring participants who engaged in shaping the dialogue on Indonesia’s energy future.
VMCSADVISORY.COM, JAKARTA — Amid growing discussions on clean energy and the rising demand for electricity, VMCS Advisory took an active role in the Energy Transition Roundtable at Electricity Connect 2025.
The discussion highlighted how industry leaders, regulators, and academics agreed that Indonesia needs a more flexible and resilient energy system one that can accommodate the rapid growth of renewable energy while meeting the surging electricity demand driven by AI-powered data centers. As stated by Kari Punnonen, Energy Business Director, Australasia, Wärtsilä Energy: “Flexibility has become the most crucial attribute of a modern power system.” Wärtsilä’s engine technology, capable of starting up and reaching full load in under two minutes, stands as a clear example of this capability.
The Lombok case study became a major highlight of the discussion. The 135 MW Wärtsilä engine power plant which supplies nearly 60% of the island’s electricity enables a 20 MW solar PV plant to operate without batteries, thanks to engine technology that can respond to grid fluctuations within seconds. Febron Siregar, Sales Director of Wärtsilä Energy, emphasized: “Lombok demonstrates that Indonesia can successfully balance renewable energy while maintaining grid reliability, without requiring excessive investment in energy storage.”
This perspective was reinforced by Dr. Ir. Kevin Marojahan Banjar Nahor, S.T., M.T., a lecturer at the School of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (STEI) ITB, who stated: “Wärtsilä’s approach reflects Indonesia’s immediate needs at this stage of the energy transition. To significantly scale up solar and wind capacity nationwide, grid flexibility is no longer optional it has become a fundamental requirement. Solutions capable of responding within seconds, such as Wärtsilä’s engine technology proven in Lombok, ensure that intermittent renewable energy can be integrated without compromising system reliability.
From a policy standpoint, the panelists emphasized the need for alignment between national energy strategies and technical realities on the ground. Fabby Tumiwa, CEO of IESR, stated: “Flexibility and reliability remain at the core of our national energy strategy.” This message has become one of VMCS’s focal points in media management to help the public understand that sustainability and reliability must go hand in hand.
Another key issue raised was the growing energy demand from AI-driven data centers. With extremely long grid connection wait times and substantial power requirements, on-site generation solutions are becoming increasingly relevant. Febron Siregar highlighted the global nature of this challenge: “In some markets, connecting data centers to the grid can take up to 10 years.” Microgrid approaches integrating renewable energy, flexible engine technology, and energy storage offer a viable solution, and VMCS is ensuring this critical issue receives proper visibility in the media.
As Indonesia pursues two major national agendas energy transition and digital economic acceleration flexible technology becomes a bridge between both. As Febron noted: “Our goal is to help Indonesia build an energy system that is sustainable and future-ready.” Through strategic communications support and media handling expertise, VMCS is committed to ensuring this message reaches the public clearly and effectively, while strengthening understanding of the importance of cross-sector collaboration in shaping Indonesia’s energy future.
