Using 991,000 Tons Of Biomass, Indonesia Successfully Reduces Carbon Emissions Of 1.1 Million Tons

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) noted an increase in the realization of co-firing at 43 steam power plants (PLTU).

Acting Director General of EBTKE Jisman P. Hutajulu said the realization of the cofiring program in 2023 reached 991,000 tons of biomass and resulted in 1.04 Terawatt Hour (TWh) green energy and a reduction in GRK emissions of 1.05 million tons of CO2e.

"This achievement shows that the cofiring program has gone well and is able to increase the use of new and renewable energy," said Jisman, quoted on Friday, January 19.

For information, cofiring is a process of burning a mixture of fossil fuels with EBT fuel, such as biomass, biogas, or hydrogen. This program is carried out by mixing biomass, such as sawdust, rice husks, and palm shell, with coal in steam power plants (PLTU).

According to Jisman, the implementation of cofiring is one of the right solutions to increase the new renewable energy mix (EBT) without increasing the number of new plants.

"Cofiring is one of the potential technologies to increase the mix of EBT," added Jisman

In 2023, as many as 7 PLTU locations will go live, totaling 43 locations. An additional 7 locations for PLTU: PLTU Ombilin, PLTU Bengkayang, PLTU Holtekamp, PLTU Ampana, PLTU Tenayan, PLTU Tidore, and PLTU Teluk Sirih.

Jisman said the government would continue to encourage the realization of the cofiring program in the coming years. The government targets the realization of the cofiring program of 2,830 thousand tons by 2024.

"We will continue to coordinate with all stakeholders to achieve this target," Jisman concluded.