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Energy efficiency is one of Indonesia’s most practical pathways to reduce emissions, lower energy costs, and improve industrial competitiveness. Yet despite its clear benefits, many potential projects still face barriers in moving from opportunity identification to actual implementation. These barriers include limited project preparation, gaps in technical capacity, perceived investment risks, and the need for stronger coordination between project owners, technology providers, financial institutions, and policymakers.
The Energy Efficiency Investment and Business Forum 2026 was designed to help address these gaps. Held on 19–20 May 2026, the forum brought together actors across Indonesia’s energy efficiency ecosystem to strengthen market readiness, accelerate investment, and create space for targeted business and investment matchmaking.
As part of the Energy Efficiency Project Incubation Secretariat, Lestari Advisors supported the forum together with NIRAS International Consulting. The forum was hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the United Kingdom Government through the United Kingdom Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transition (UK PACT), with support from OJK, OECD CEFIM, MDF, BASE Foundation, and ASEAN Centre for Energy.
From dialogue to deal flow: strengthening the energy efficiency ecosystem
More than a discussion forum, the event served as a platform to connect project needs with relevant technical solutions, implementation models, and financing options. Through a combination of panel discussions, project pipeline presentations, technology showcases, and matchmaking sessions, the forum aimed to support the development of a stronger and more investment-ready energy efficiency project pipeline in Indonesia.
The first day focused on market readiness and investment acceleration. Senior representatives from the ESDM, the British Embassy Jakarta, OJK, and ASEAN Centre for Energy opened the discussion, followed by sessions with development partners, financial institutions, and technology providers. The discussions highlighted the importance of legal certainty, standardized contracts, reliable measurement and verification, bankable project preparation, and appropriate de-risking instruments.
The second day focused on capacity building. Opened by Ms. Retno Woelandari as the Head of the Department of Regulation and Development for Insurance, Guarantee, and Pension Funds at the Financial Services Authority (OJK), participants joined targeted classroom sessions on energy management and auditing, energy efficiency insurance, and energy efficiency financing. These sessions were facilitated by ASEAN Centre for Energy, BASE Foundation, and OECD CEFIM, allowing participants to engage more deeply with topics most relevant to their institutional needs.
From engagement to early follow-up
The attracted strong interest from across the ecosystem, with more than 100 participants representing ESCOs, technology providers, project and facility owners, industrial players, financial institutions, government agencies, and development partners. Alongside the main sessions, 10 exhibitors showcased innovative energy efficiency technologies and financing solutions designed to support project implementation and investment readiness. The exhibitor includes ASEAN Centre for Energy, Sinar Mas, Schneider Electric, Ultrafilter, Azbil Corporation, Midea, Daikin, Johnson Controls, Transavia, and Thermax.
The forum also generated early signs of market follow-up. Based on post-event feedback, at least 22 institutions expressed interest in matchmaking opportunities, and seven follow-up discussions have already been initiated around potential energy efficiency projects.
Key milestones launched during the forum
The forum also marked several important milestones for Indonesia’s energy efficiency ecosystem.
First, the Energy Efficiency Incubation Secretariat handed over letters of support for priority project incubation to several institutions, recognizing their commitment to advancing energy efficiency initiatives. These included PT Amerta Indah Otsuka, PT Victory Chingluh Indonesia, PT Sika Indonesia, PT Bank Mandiri (Persero) Tbk, PT Sinergi Teknologi Ekologi Manusia (STEM Energy), PAM Surya Sembada Surabaya, and PT Azbil Berca.
Second, Sinarmas Insurance and ASEI introduced the Energy Saving Insurance product as a risk mitigation instrument for energy efficiency projects. The product is being developed by BASE Foundation with support from UK PACT.
Third, the Financial Services Authority (OJK) announced the Energy Efficiency Project Financing Handbook for Financial Services Institutions, intended to support more practical and measurable green financing.
Sustaining momentum for implementation
For Lestari Advisors, the forum demonstrated that Indonesia’s energy efficiency agenda is gaining momentum. The participation of project owners, technology providers, financial institutions, insurers, development partners, and government institutions showed that the ecosystem is beginning to converge around a shared challenge: how to turn energy-saving opportunities into bankable, investable, and measurable projects.
Sustaining this momentum will require continued support for project preparation, stronger matchmaking between demand and supply, more practical financing tools, and risk-sharing mechanisms that can increase confidence among both project owners and financiers.
Through its role in the Energy Efficiency Incubation Secretariat, Lestari Advisors remains committed to supporting a stronger enabling ecosystem for energy efficiency investment in Indonesia, helping more projects move from concept to implementation.