Introduction

The use of fossil energy which the world has relied upon so far has proven to increase the rate of global warming. A special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, even strictly stated that it is essential to perform an immediate and major energy transformation to prevent an increase to level 1.5°C. In order to limit temperature increase, at least there has to be a decrease of 25-30 GtCO₂e/year¹ emission annually and energy sector plays an important role in this reduction. An energy transition to renewable and efficient energy needs to be carried out soon.

The spirit of energy transition is translated by the government of Indonesia through several documents of policy and energy plans. One of them is in National Energy Policy which set minimum new and renewable energy development to 23% by 2025. Unfortunately, in many Indonesia’s policy the term new and renewable are frequently used as a whole. In the end, many parties perceived that new and renewable energy is the pillar of Indonesia’s future energy. While, new energy and renewable energy are two different things, the difference among other things are when they are viewed from environment impact and health point of views.

The objective of this article is to have an overview of how Indonesia manage regulations related to new energy and renewable energy as well as examines the differences between new energy and renewable energy, especially when viewed from environment impact point of view and health point of view. At the end, this article shall recommend that regulations for new energy and renewable energy cannot be treated alike. Renewable energy, as clean and environmentally friendly energy, deserves a priority to be the pillar of Indonesia’s future energy