Indonesia’s Vanda Project Awaits Regulatory Framework for Cross-Border Solar Power Exports

Indonesia’s Vanda Solar and Battery Project in the Riau Islands is awaiting the Indonesian government’s regulatory framework for cross-border electricity exports before moving forward.

The large-scale project is planned to include 2GWp of solar PV capacity and 4.4GWh of battery energy storage, with the electricity generated intended to be exported entirely to Singapore. The project is targeting operations around 2029.

The project comes as Indonesia and Singapore strengthen cooperation on renewable electricity trading. Indonesia has previously committed to supplying Singapore with at least 3.4GW of renewable electricity by 2035.

According to the latest project updates, regulatory issues surrounding cross-border electricity exports and Indonesia’s domestic electricity allocation requirements remain key considerations for the project’s development.

The Vanda project reflects a broader shift in Southeast Asia’s renewable energy market. As countries seek to expand renewable generation while managing intermittency and grid constraints, solar PV, BESS, cross-border transmission and regional electricity trading are increasingly being developed as interconnected components.

If regulatory frameworks and transmission infrastructure continue to advance, projects of this scale could contribute to the development of a more integrated ASEAN regional power market.