Harnessing flowing water for renewable electricity in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Barges carrying coal along Indonesia's rivers are a common sight: fossil fuels supplied 82% of the country's electricity in 2024. Yet Indonesia's islands, rivers and heavy rainfall give it large hydropower potential, supporting the national target of 53–55% new and renewable energy in the primary energy mix by 2050.
To learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals verified by the standard for this project, please check the project's registry link above.
Located about 12 km east of Sibolga in North Sumatra, this 50 MW run-of-river plant, owned by state utility PT. PLN (Persero), harnesses water from the Sipansihaporas River and three tributaries. It is expected to supply 214,800 MWh of renewable electricity to the Sumatra grid on average per year.
By displacing fossil fuel power on the Sumatra grid, the project was estimated to reduce 1,853,928 tCO₂e over its 2016–2026 crediting period. Construction and operation provide regular, permanent local jobs, and training helps staff work safely. These opportunities aim to alleviate poverty and slow migration from the region.
