In the effort to promote sustainability within Indonesia’s data center industry, various challenges continue to arise — from limited renewable energy supply and rising fossil fuel costs to the need for stricter environmental regulations.
Solar energy is often seen as the future solution. But the real question is: Can solar power truly support data center operations efficiently and sustainably in Indonesia?
Podcast Nusantara Episode 6B: “Overcoming Challenges in Creating Sustainable Data Centers in Indonesia” explores this topic with:
- Mario Leonardo Tjandra, Sales Director, PT Vertiv Technology Indonesia
- Chandra Irawan, Country Manager Indonesia, Pure Data Centres Group / Head of Energy, IDPRO
- Hosted by Prisca Winata, Senior Sustainability Manager at JLL Indonesia.
The Main Challenge: Energy Demand vs. Renewable Energy Availability
The rapid growth of Indonesia’s data center industry has led to a significant increase in energy demand.
Unfortunately, the supply of renewable energy is still far from meeting the total demand.
According to Mario, one potential solution is the power wheeling concept — a mechanism that allows data center operators to use renewable electricity from third-party power plants without being in the same location.
However, implementation still depends heavily on government policies and inter-agency coordination.
“Power wheeling is a great solution, but it takes time and collaboration from all stakeholders to make it work,” explained Mario.
Solar Energy: The Greatest Potential in a Tropical Nation
Thanks to its tropical geography, Indonesia enjoys stable sunlight exposure throughout the year, making solar energy (PV) a leading candidate to power green data centers.
Chandra highlighted that solar PV systems hold great potential, yet they are intermittent — meaning energy production fluctuates with sunlight intensity.
To overcome this, battery storage technology plays a crucial role in maintaining a consistent power supply.
He also emphasized that investment and financing are key factors for scaling up solar energy adoption nationwide.
“The key isn’t just in using solar power — it’s about how we store and distribute it efficiently,” said Chandra.
Talent Challenge: The Shortage of Skilled Data Center Professionals
Sustainability is not just about technology — it’s also about the people behind it.
Both speakers agreed that Indonesia still lacks experienced professionals in data center operations, particularly in electrical engineering, cooling systems, and facility management.
Initiatives like Nusantara Data Center Academy (NDCA) play a critical role in closing this talent gap.
Through training programs and cross-sector collaboration, NDCA aims to build a local talent ecosystem ready to support the data center industry.
“We want to inspire young talent to enter the data center industry — not just from IT, but also from mechanical, electrical, and control engineering backgrounds,” said Chandra.
🔗 Read also: Indonesia’s Data Center Talent Shortage: Strategies to Build a Skilled Workforce
Moving Toward Net Zero Carbon: Real Actions from the Industry
Both Vertiv and Pure Data Centres have started taking real steps toward net-zero carbon operations.
- Vertiv focuses on energy efficiency and low-carbon materials in its cooling systems.
- Pure Data Centres targets net-zero operations by 2030 through the use of biofuel and HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil), along with carbon offset programs centered on reforestation and biodiversity projects.
They also stress the importance of operational efficiency, such as reducing “zombie servers” — servers that consume energy without being in active use.
“The cleanest energy is the energy we don’t use,” Chandra concluded.
Conclusion
Podcast Nusantara Episode 6B emphasizes that solar energy holds great promise, but it’s not the only answer.
Achieving sustainable data center operations in Indonesia requires progressive policies, technological innovation, and continuous talent development.
Programs like Nusantara Data Center Academy (NDCA) will continue to play a vital role in strengthening national competency and driving the growth of green, globally competitive data centers.
For more details, listen directly to the podcast on YouTube Nusantara Academy and don’t forget to register for training by contacting https://wa.me/6285176950083
