Denmark and Indonesia Cooperate on Developing Sustainable Islands

Tuesday, 02 June 2026

When people think about Lombok, they usually picture white-sand beaches, rolling hills, and crystal-clear water. But behind the tourism appeal, Lombok is also becoming a testing ground for something much bigger: sustainable development.

Over the last several years, Indonesia and Denmark have been working together to help transform Lombok into a more sustainable and environmentally friendly island. The partnership focuses on renewable energy, waste management, and long-term green development that can eventually be replicated across other Indonesian islands.

The cooperation officially began in 2016 through a government-to-government program involving Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the National Energy Council, and the Danish Energy Agency. The goal was simple but ambitious: help Indonesia increase renewable energy use while supporting economic growth and improving energy security.

Why Lombok? The answer is quite straightforward. Like many islands across Indonesia, Lombok has traditionally relied on diesel and coal-fired power plants to meet its electricity needs. As tourism and economic activity continue to grow, energy demand is rising rapidly. This creates both a challenge and an opportunity.

To address this issue, Danish and Indonesian experts conducted a series of studies examining Lombok’s energy future. The results were encouraging. The studies found that Lombok could potentially integrate up to 60 percent renewable energy into its power system by 2030 while remaining economically efficient. In other words, going green is not just good for the environment—it can also make financial sense.

The research highlighted several promising investment opportunities. Solar power, wind energy, biomass facilities, and waste-to-energy projects were identified as sectors with strong potential for private investors. These findings send a positive signal to both domestic and foreign companies looking for sustainable investment opportunities in Lombok.

For investors, this partnership offers something extremely valuable: confidence. When governments actively support renewable energy development and long-term planning, investment risks often become easier to manage. Clear energy roadmaps and feasibility studies help businesses make informed decisions before committing capital.

The cooperation has also expanded beyond electricity generation. Through the Sustainable Island Initiative, Denmark and Indonesia have worked together on waste management, circular economy programs, and waste-to-energy solutions. These efforts aim to reduce pollution while creating additional sources of renewable energy for island communities.

One of the most interesting aspects of the project is scalability. The lessons learned in Lombok are not intended to stay in Lombok forever. Both governments view the island as a model that can inspire similar projects across Indonesia’s vast archipelago. If successful, the approach could help other islands reduce their dependence on fossil fuels while supporting sustainable economic growth.

For Lombok itself, the benefits could be significant. A cleaner energy system, improved waste management, lower emissions, and stronger investor interest all contribute to a more sustainable future. As global investors increasingly prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, Lombok’s green transformation could become a major competitive advantage.

In the end, the Denmark-Indonesia partnership is about much more than energy. It is about creating a blueprint for how tourism, investment, economic growth, and environmental responsibility can work together. For Lombok, that may be one of the most valuable investments of all.