Jakarta − State electricity company PT PLN has been engaged in effirts to accelerate energy transition in the country through the development of New Renewable Energy (EBT) with a positive trend record, says PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo.
Darmawan said that PLN now focuses not only on providing electricity, but also on a sustainable environment. He cited that various measures have been taken to encourage energy transition in Indonesia, starting from increasing the capacity of renewable energy plants, encouraging the implementation of co-firing, to providing clean electricity through Renewable Energy Certicifate (REC) services.
“The earth is warming up, our task is how to ensure that the lives of future generations are better than today. Through energy transition, we continue to ensure that the energy we use is not only reliable but also environmentally friendly,” Darmawan said on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
The realization of installed capacity of renewable energy plants in Indonesia in 2023 was recorded at 8,786 megawatts (MW), higher than the 2022 figure of 8,525 MW. Hydro power plants contributed the largest portion with 5,777 MW, 2,519 MW of geothermal power plants with 2,519 MW, and the remaining 490 MW from solar, wind, and biomass.
“PLN continues to strive to provide electricity that is not only reliable, but also sustainable. In the midst of energy transition efforts, PLN continues to develop new and renewable energy-based plants by implementing prudent and robust financial initiatives,” Darmawan cited.
Meanwhile, PLN is also massively encouraging the implementation of biomass or co-firing PLTU as a substitute for coal. Until the end of 2023, the biomass program has been implemented in 43 PLN-owned Steam Power Plants (PLTUs) by utilizing more than 990 thousand tons of co-firing or an increase of 69 percent compared to 2022 which was only 586 thousand tons in 36 PLTUs.
Through the use of co-firing, PLN can produce more than 1 million megawatt-hour (MWh) of electrical energy in 2023, an increase of almost twice from the previous year of 599 thousand MWh.
“Co-firing technology is a breakthrough in energy transition in the country, providing lots of benefit. In addition to reducing emissions, it will also reduce the use of fossil energy. More than that, co-firing also encourages the people’s economy through direct community involvement in biomass development,” Darmawan said.
Going forward, this program will continue to be expanded where by 2025, co-firing is targeted to be implemented in 52 PLTUs.
PLN’s commitment to encourage the energy transition has proven to get support from the public through the high interest in the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) service, which is an international recognition of the use of clean electricity for customers.
The number of REC transactions in 2023 managed to reach 3,378 transactions, an increase by 69.67 percent from 2022 which amounted to 1,991 transactions. The total electrical energy utilized by the community reached 3.54 million MWh, a double from the previous year’s 1.76 million MWh.
The increase in REC users also boosted the company’s revenue from REC by Rp61 billion (US$3.7 million) to Rp124 billion (US$7.6 million).
“In encouraging energy transition in Indonesia, PLN cannot face it in an atmosphere of solitude, there needs to be collaboration from all parties. Therefore, PLN will continue to optimize every potential that exists to continue to bring clean energy to the community,” Darmawan said.
