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Insight•Sep 22, 2026•5 min read

The Sun Goes Down. Should Our Clean Energy?

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The Sun Goes Down. Should Our Clean Energy?
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Understanding the Urgency of Energy Storage on World Energy Storage Day, September 22

Clean energy is changing the way we power our world. But one question is often left unanswered: what happens when the sun stops shining or the wind stops blowing? This is exactly the question at the heart of World Energy Storage Day, observed every September 22 — a reminder that renewable energy alone is not enough without a reliable storage system behind it.

What Exactly Is Energy Storage?

In simple terms, energy storage is the ability to capture energy, retain it for a period of time, and release it when needed. This concept has become increasingly critical in the era of energy transition, since renewable sources such as solar and wind depend heavily on natural conditions — whether the sun is shining or the wind is blowing.

This is where energy storage comes in: it introduces temporal flexibility into the electricity system by storing excess energy generated during the day for use after sunset. Without adequate storage, power grids that rely on renewable energy remain vulnerable to instability.

More Than Just Batteries

When people hear "energy storage," most immediately think of batteries. In reality, no single technology is suitable for every application. Energy storage is generally classified into five major groups:

  1. Mechanical Energy Storage — including Pumped Hydroelectric Storage (PHS/PHES), Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), and Flywheel Energy Storage.
  2. Electrochemical Energy Storage — including lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, and flow batteries.
  3. Chemical Energy Storage — such as electrolysis, hydrogen-based energy storage, and long-duration or seasonal storage.
  4. Electrical Energy Storage — including supercapacitors and Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES).
  5. Thermal Energy Storage — ranging from sensible heat storage and latent heat storage to thermochemical heat storage and Carnot batteries.

This diversity matters because every application — from household use to national grid scale — requires a different balance of duration, capacity, and response speed.

Why Does Indonesia Need Energy Storage?

For Indonesia, the need for energy storage is far from just a global talking point — it is a concrete necessity, driven by several key factors:

  • Multi-Island Geography. Indonesia consists of thousands of islands, making centralized power generation impractical in many areas.
  • Supporting 3T Regions. Decentralized systems paired with energy storage are essential to maintaining a reliable electricity supply in frontier, outermost, and least-developed (3T) regions.
  • Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets. The government aims to add 42.6 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2034, which is estimated to require around 10.3 GW of energy storage capacity to keep the grid balanced.

The EV Boom and the Domestic Battery Industry

Indonesia is also pushing hard for the adoption of electric vehicles, targeting 600,000 electric cars and 2.45 million electric two-wheelers by 2030. Achieving this goal requires massive infrastructure development, including tens of thousands of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (SPKLU) and Battery Swapping Stations (SPBKLU).

Leveraging the world's largest nickel reserves, Indonesia is building an integrated industrial ecosystem that spans the entire value chain — from raw material processing and battery cell production to electric vehicle manufacturing.

But What Are the Challenges?

Despite its enormous potential, integrating energy storage into the national power system still faces several significant challenges:

  • Economic Feasibility. High investment, operation, and maintenance costs remain major barriers to large-scale deployment.
  • Technical Management. Energy storage systems require strict monitoring of State of Charge (SOC), State of Health (SOH), and temperature to prevent safety risks such as thermal runaway.
  • Environmental Impact. The rapid growth of battery deployment raises concerns over raw material extraction, life-cycle emissions, and the urgent need for battery recycling facilities.

The Future of Energy Storage

Looking ahead, energy storage is expected to become increasingly integrated with other technologies, forming a smarter and more resilient power system:

  • Integration with Smart Grids — energy storage can become an integral part of smart grids, helping balance electricity generation and consumption in a more dynamic way.
  • Integration with Microgrids — within microgrids, energy storage systems can operate alongside solar PV, renewable generation, and local loads to maintain continuity of electricity supply.
  • Utilization of IoT — the Internet of Things enables real-time monitoring of energy storage systems and power grids, including voltage, current, temperature, and battery state of charge.
  • Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Concept — this technology allows electric vehicle batteries not only to draw energy from the grid, but also to supply energy back to the grid when needed.

So, What Does This Mean for Us?

Energy storage is more than just an accessory to the grid; it is the enabler of our energy transition. By improving system flexibility, reducing fossil-fuel dependence, and ensuring long-term energy resilience, energy storage forms the foundation that will carry Indonesia's clean energy future forward.

Happy World Energy Storage Day. Let's keep learning — and keep spreading the word — about why energy storage matters for a cleaner energy future.

Designed by: Faqih Romadon

Written by Academic, Campaign, and Education:
Muhammad Aziz Syukron
Aditya Alvarel Raka Ardhana
Ahmad Risky Firdiansyah
Hanifah Manzilatun Ni'mah

Published by: Web Development Division – Media and Creative Department

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