THE COST OF COAL IS HIGHER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
Summary
The document asserts that renewable energy is significantly cheaper than coal when air pollution externalities are included. It highlights that coal producers in Indonesia received at least IDR 12.4 trillion (USD 946 million) in subsidies in 2014, which is more than five times the total subsidies provided to renewable energy between 2010 and 2015. The text warns that continuing coal reliance could lock in emissions and pollution for 25 years and notes that large renewable investments are required to provide electricity access to millions of households in Indonesia.
Key insights
- Renewable energy is already significantly cheaper than coal when externalities such as air pollution are factored into the cost, and the costs of renewables continue to fall.
- Coal producers in Indonesia received at least IDR 12.4 trillion (USD 946 million) in subsidies in 2014, a figure exceeding the total subsidies given to renewable energy from 2010 to 2015 by more than five times.
- Maintaining a reliance on coal risks locking in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution for the next 25 years, while millions of Indonesian households still lack electricity access.
Cite the original document
- 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} }
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