Bali Blackout Raises Urgency for Renewable Energy Implementation

By Jayanty Nada Shofa
Published: May 9, 2025 | 4:47 PM

Bali, the renowned tourist destination, has recently made headlines following a significant blackout that occurred on May 2, 2025. The incident resulted in widespread disruption affecting not only tourism but also commerce and essential public services, sparking discussions about the island’s dependence on external power sources.

Blackout Overview

The blackout, which began at approximately 4 PM local time, persisted for around 12 hours and impacted nearly 1.8 million customers of the state-owned electricity company, PLN. The power outage was primarily attributed to faults in the undersea cables that connect Bali to Java, from which the island sources about 50% of its electricity supply. Even days after the incident, Bali experienced rolling power disruptions, prompting urgent calls for energy reform.

Calls for Renewable Energy Solutions

In the wake of this blackout, government officials and energy analysts have voiced their concerns regarding Bali’s energy resilience. Eniya Listiani Dewi, a director at Indonesia’s Energy Ministry, emphasized the need for Bali to reduce its dependency on Java by exploiting local renewable energy resources. “Geothermal use is something that we need to encourage,” she stated, highlighting that the concentration of power generation in Java makes Bali vulnerable to outages.

Dewi pointed to the potential of geothermal energy, particularly in the Bedugul area, as a viable option for diversifying Bali’s energy sources. A geothermal project, currently backed by Bali Energy Limited in partnership with Pertamina Geothermal Energy, aims to generate up to 175 megawatts (MW) of electricity. However, local religious leaders and environmental activists have raised concerns regarding the project’s impact on sacred sites and potential ecological damage, which has delayed its progress.

Exploring Other Renewable Alternatives

Marlistya Citraningrum, a senior analyst from the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), highlighted the need for Bali to not only look towards geothermal energy but to explore a wider range of renewable options. According to IESR estimates, Bali has a solar power potential of up to 26 gigawatts (GW), in addition to other renewable resources such as wind energy capable of producing 445 MW, micro-hydro power at 256 MW, and bioenergy with a potential of 15 MW.

“The flexibility of solar power makes it an excellent candidate for Bali,” Citra noted, citing that solar plants can be implemented swiftly. Innovative approaches, such as rooftop installations or floating solar panels, provide additional avenues to increase energy generation capacity, which could be integrated into the existing PLN electricity network.

Economic Implications for Bali’s Tourism Sector

The recent disruptions have underscored the importance of reliable energy for Bali’s tourism sector, which is crucial to the local economy. As of Q1 2025, tourism-related services, comprising accommodation, food, and beverage sectors, contributed 21.23% to the region’s economy and have shown a notable year-on-year growth of 7.47%. With nearly 1.5 million foreign tourists visiting Bali in the first quarter alone, enhancing the island’s energy infrastructure is paramount to sustaining its appeal as a tourist destination.

Conclusion

The blackout in Bali serves as a wake-up call for the island to reassess its energy strategies. Emphasizing the need for a shift towards renewable sources could not only mitigate risks associated with power dependence but also align with global sustainability trends. As Bali recovers from this recent disruption, the opportunity to embrace renewable energy appears more critical than ever.

With ongoing discussions and initiatives from government officials and energy analysts, the future of Bali’s energy landscape looks poised for transformation — driven by a collective effort to harness the island’s own natural resources.