Ahmad Agus Setiawan Leads Clean Energy Transitions Through Knowledge and Policy

Ahmad Agus Setiawan’s interest in clean energy began with a wire-screen window in his elementary school in Yogyakarta. From there, he gazed at the towering Mount Merapi in the distance. He has carried that early vision into a career in clean energy, confident that geothermal, wind and solar power can drive Indonesia’s energy transition.

‘I have always held the conviction that renewable energy would one day become mainstream, not just an alternative,’ said Agus, who serves as the Head of Renewable Energy Laboratory (RELab) at the Universitas Gadjah Mada. ‘Global leaders are increasingly aware that it’s time to turn a new page.’

Agus has spent most of his career strengthening his technical expertise in renewable energy engineering, earning a long list of international and domestic accolades. He has also helped to shape Indonesia’s energy policy as an adviser to President Joko Widodo’s administration.

Building Technical Expertise in Australia

Long before ‘energy transition’ became a global buzzword, Agus was pursuing renewable energy. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Universitas Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta in 1999, he joined his alma mater as a lecturer in a new program where renewable energy was among the subjects offered.

When he enrolled in a masters program in sustainable energy engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden in the early 2000s, renewable energy was still far from mainstream in Indonesia.

But it didn’t stop Agus. After his experience in Sweden, he was determined to pursue a PhD and was successful in the Australian Development Scholarship, as it was known then.

For Agus, what truly set the Australia Awards apart from other scholarships was the support he received before, during and after his studies. Support such as pre-departure training and assistance in bringing his family to Australia gave him peace of mind.

That support proved especially important when Agus decided to transfer universities. He was initially accepted at the University of New South Wales, but as his studies progressed, he chose to move to Curtin University’s doctoral program in Renewable Energy and Power Systems.

‘I wanted to sharpen my engineering skills, so I asked if I could move to Curtin because it has the Centre for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies Australia (CRESTA) and its spin-off industry, Regen Power. My goal at that time was to ensure that Indonesia’s renewable energy system would be well developed,’ he said.

‘Australia Awards was incredibly helpful. The information was always clear and they provided all the support I needed to start my studies from scratch at Curtin. Almost every part of my study plan was supported by Australia Awards.’

Global Recognition for Engineering Solutions

Toward the end of his studies in 2007, Agus won the Mondialogo Engineering Award, an international competition for engineering students organised by German automotive company Daimler AG and UNESCO.

In his entry, Agus proposed a solar-powered water supply system designed to ensure access to clean water in remote areas following a disaster. Winning the prize allowed Agus to take his system from laboratory testing to real-world implementation.

‘The idea was to use a solar-powered pump to bring water from underground to the surface, demonstrating how clean energy technology can be applied for the wider public,’ he said.

Since then, Agus has received various awards, including the Energy Globe World Award 2012 organised by Energy Globe Foundation, Outstanding Flagship Project in the 9th Global Regional Centre of Expertises Conference Okayama, Japan, 2014 and the Habibie Prize in Engineering from the Habibie Centre in 2014.

He also received the Australian Alumni Award for Sustainable Economic and Social Development in 2011 and the Australia-Indonesia Awards in 2022.

From Research to National Energy Policy

Agus’s expertise attracted the attention of the Indonesian Government. In his second term in office, President Widodo’s government aimed to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources from 9.15% in 2019 to 23% by 2025.

Joining the presidential office allowed Agus to bridge his scientific knowledge with political awareness. He navigated social and political dynamics to ensure that renewable energy projects already in the pipeline could progress.

‘As an academic, I used to wonder why it was so difficult to increase the use of renewable energy. But joining the government opened my eyes to the complexity of translating a national plan into on-the-ground implementation,’ Agus said.

Despite various obstacles, such as land acquisition issues, Agus successfully brought several projects online during his five years of government service.These included the Cirata floating solar power plant in West Java, the Jeneponto wind power project in Sulawesi and the Waste-to-Energy Power Plant project that was inaugurated by then mayor of Solo City Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is now the Indonesian Vice President.

At the end of 2025, a year after Agus finished his term, the share of renewable energy in Indonesia was 15.75%. While this fell short of the target, Agus observed that renewables had become mainstream, not only at the project level, but also in everyday life. Households and commercial buildings were installing rooftop solar and electric vehicles were more popular.

‘We may not achieve the 23% share of renewable energy target, but looking back to the early 2000s, I’m seeing progress. Renewable energy is no longer seen as just an ‘alternative energy’,’ said Agus.

A Vision for Indonesia’s Clean Energy Future

Speaking on International Clean Energy Day, Agus was optimistic that Indonesia’s renewable energy sector would continue to progress. He noted that this optimism was reflected in the growing interest in clean energy among younger generations.

‘It’s easier for me now to explain clean energy issues, including net-zero emissions, to my students. They’re also excited to participate in competitions related to clean energy, renewable energy or climate change, and they win,’ he remarked.

However, Agus emphasised that for the renewable energy industry to evolve, companies must offer attractive incentives to draw top talent. In reality, clean energy firms face stiff competition in recruiting skilled graduates, many of whom opt for fossil fuel companies that offer higher salaries and better benefits.

‘Ideally, clean energy should be widely adopted in society and create real job opportunities for graduates with competitive and attractive salaries,’ he said. ‘It’s not just about saving the environment. Once the clean energy industry reaches this level, the energy transition will progress faster and more naturally.’