17 October 2015: The World Agroforestry Centre of the CGIAR Consortium and the Government of Indonesia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to further research on sustainable bioenergy in the country. The signing took place in Bali, Indonesia on 17 October 2015, on the sidelines of the Renewable Energy Forum held the 16-17 October. The MOU builds upon the long-term memorandum between the Centre and the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry and aims to increase synergies between all partners. The Ministry expressed its interest in the MOU given that a large part of biomass production for bioenergy is linked to forests and forested land.

Indonesia is working to ensure that 10% of the country’s target of 23% of energy from renewable sources by 2025 comes from bioenergy. Bali, specifically, the first province in Indonesia to be declared a “clean and green” energy area, aims to ensure that 100% of its energy is from renewable sources by 2108. To help achieve these national goals, the MOU establishes a framework for cooperation on energy development and conservation that supports technology and policy development and addresses regulatory concerns between the Government and the private sector.

Possible cooperative activities include: strengthening capacity to develop bioenergy to support sustainable development; connecting with the global scientific and development communities to ascertain best practices and lessons learned; facilitating national and global knowledge exchanges between the scientific community and policy makers on bioenergy; supporting and enhancing Indonesia’s scientific contributions to global bioenergy-related research and policy making; and building capacity in education and training. [World Agroforestry Centre News]