In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable energy, Indonesia's state-owned power company, PLN, inaugurated its first Green Hydrogen Plant (GHP) in the country on Monday, October 9. The GHP, a project managed by PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP), is located in the Muara Karang Steam Gas Power Plant (PLTGU) area in Pluit, Jakarta. Notably, this plant relies entirely on Renewable Energy Sources (EBT) and has the capacity to produce 51 tons of hydrogen annually.
Green hydrogen, often referred to as “hidrogen hijau” in Indonesian, is a clean energy source that generates only water vapor and leaves no residue in the air, making it a key player in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi, the Director-General of New and Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), emphasized the pivotal role of green hydrogen as a future alternative fuel. Green hydrogen is a cornerstone of the energy transition aimed at achieving the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target by 2060.
“This is a true breakthrough! What PLN is doing here is extraordinary. Green hydrogen is a game-changer in the energy transition. The government is committed to its development and will continue to conduct comprehensive studies and policy formulations to promote its growth in Indonesia,” remarked Yudo during his address.
Yudo further highlighted Indonesia's significant potential in the development of green hydrogen. He pointed out that neighboring Singapore has expressed a need for green hydrogen and intends to absorb production from Indonesia. He emphasized the need for ongoing development, including infrastructure such as storage, as the demand for green hydrogen is expected to grow continuously.
Darmawan Prasodjo, the President Director of PLN, described the GHP as a result of ongoing innovation by PLN in response to the challenges of the energy transition. One notable application of hydrogen is in transportation fuel. According to him, the future of transportation is not solely moving towards electricity but also towards hydrogen. Therefore, PLN, as a key player in the energy transition, remains committed to providing clean energy to the public.
“This is a tangible manifestation of collaboration with the Ministry of ESDM. We have carried out this innovative project to maximize the existing facilities at the Muara Karang PLTGU, utilizing 100% of renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen,” emphasized Darmawan.
The GHP by PLN Nusantara Power is produced using energy from solar power plants (PLTS) located within the PLTGU Muara Karang area. Additionally, green hydrogen production is augmented through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from the Kamojang Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP).
Out of the total annual hydrogen production of 51 tons, 43 tons can be used to power 147 vehicles, each covering a distance of 100 kilometers daily. Darmawan underlined the environmental benefits by explaining, “If the emissions of a 10-kilometer journey of a gasoline vehicle amount to 2.4 kg of CO2, then using green hydrogen with emissions at 0 means avoiding 1,920 tons of CO2e annually.”
Beyond transportation, green hydrogen finds applications in various industrial sectors, including steel production, concrete manufacturing, and chemical and fertilizer production.
Ruly Firmansyah, the President Director of PLN Nusantara Power, outlined the company's commitment to eco-friendly gas production. “The development of green hydrogen is one of the alternatives in our joint efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We hope that the inauguration of Indonesia's first green hydrogen plant will pioneer further green hydrogen projects across the archipelago,” he stated.
The utilization of green hydrogen is set to simplify various industries that are challenging to electrify, such as steel production, aviation, heavy vehicles, and shipping.
The GHP at the Muara Karang facility represents a starting point, with plans to replicate the hydrogen plant at other PLN Nusantara Power plants on Java Island, potentially increasing annual production to around 150 tons in the future, added Ruly.
