In the heart of Indonesia’s archipelago, where sunlight shines on emerald forests, a quiet crisis continues to unfold—the country still struggles with limited access to clean, sustainable energy. Despite its natural riches, the nation remains tethered to the limited energy resources, with the majority of its power drawn from fossil fuels like coal and oil—remnants of a past that no longer serve the promise of a greener future.

Reducing its dependence on fossil energy might be the key to eliminating many impacts on life, particularly health and the environment. Air pollution caused by the processing of fossil fuels increases the risk of respiratory disease. Environmentally, coal usage contributes to rising carbon dioxide levels, which are a major driver of global warming.

The government, together with relevant stakeholders, also continues to seek solutions to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2060. One of the key strategies is the adoption of sustainable energy.

Indonesia is geographically blessed with abundant renewable energy resources such as wind, geothermal, and solar. Among these, solar energy stands out as a particularly viable solution due to the country’s tropical climate and consistent year-round sunshine. 

In fact, the potential solar energy capacity in Indonesia is estimated to reach up to 500 GW. However, as of 2022, only around 13 GW of this potential has been utilized by the government, public, and private sectors.

Yet, maximizing the use of solar energy in Indonesia is not a task for the government alone—it also requires active participation from the private sector. 

Comes Xurya, an East Ventures-backed company that has made significant contributions to increasing the adoption of solar power among businesses.

In addition to supporting the growth of the solar panel industry, Xurya has introduced innovations that help business owners reduce their energy costs and improve operational efficiency.

The beginning of Xurya’s journey

Founded in 2018 by Eka Himawan, Edwin Widjonarko, and Philip Effendy, Xurya has become a role model in Indonesia’s solar energy industry. The company offers complete solutions—from financing and engineering design to installation and operations—across various regions in Indonesia.

The idea of launching a renewable energy company had been on Eka and Edwin’s minds since 2007. Both had backgrounds in the solar energy sector: Eka was working at a hedge fund investing in solar technology, while Edwin was a researcher specializing in solar panels. However, the plan was put on hold as they pursued their careers.

Read the full article on East Ventures.