THE COST OF COAL IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK

This fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that renewable energy is more cost-effective than coal in Indonesia when externalities are considered and highlights the disparity in subsidies between the two energy sources.

• Renewable energy is significantly cheaper than coal when externalities such as air pollution are factored into the cost, and continuing to rely on coal risks locking in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution for 25 years.
• Coal producers received at least IDR 12.4 trillion (USD 946 million) in subsidies in 2014, a figure that exceeds the total subsidies provided to renewable energy between 2010 and 2015 by more than five times.
• Reducing coal subsidies would decrease the relative share of coal in the electricity sector and increase the competitiveness of renewable energy, which is necessary to provide sustainable energy access to the millions of Indonesian households currently without electricity.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). THE COST OF COAL IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/indonesia-electricity-generation-coal-renewables-infographic-en.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. THE COST OF COAL IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/indonesia-electricity-generation-coal-renewables-infographic-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=THE COST OF COAL IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/indonesia-electricity-generation-coal-renewables-infographic-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndcost, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{THE COST OF COAL IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/indonesia-electricity-generation-coal-renewables-infographic-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }