Establishing Plus-Minus-Energy-Regions: The Maluku Archipelago in Indonesia

This book explains and illustrates how Indonesia as the largest and most populous country in Southeast Asia can become independent of fossil fuels by both reducing its energy needs and using renewable resources. A study presented in this work focuses on the Maluku Archipelago in eastern Indonesia with Ambon as its capital. Conventional energy is brought to the islands over long distances by partly simple means as boats, ships and aircrafts. This unsustainable situation calls for a decentralized renewable energy supply strategy.

Based on the research presented in this book, it is clear that the archipelago has the potential to become a so-called plus-minus region. Plus-minus regions are regions that produce more renewable energy than they need and capture more CO2 than they emit.

The authors are convinced that the presented strategy illustrated on the Maluku Archipelago can be transferred to other regions of the world and that only by developing plus-minus regions the international 2°C climate goal can be achieved. The model region thus serves as proof that the plus-minus target can also be achieved in emerging countries with limited financial resources.