PLN To Build 10.6 Gigawatt Clean Energy Plant Until 2025

PHOTO VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) targets to build a clean energy plant of 10.6 gigawatts by 2025, this step is a commitment to achieve the target of a new renewable energy mix of 23 percent in the next four years.

"We are targeting to build a new renewable energy plant of 10.6 gigawatts," said PLN Executive Vice President of Engineering and Technology Zainal Arifin in a written statement, Saturday, December 4.

Zainal explained that of the 10.6-gigawatt clean energy generation, 1.4 gigawatt is a Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP), and 3.1 gigawatt is a Hydro Power Plant (PLTA).

Meanwhile, the portion of Micro Hydro Power Plants (PLTM) is 1.1 gigawatts, Solar Power Plants (PLTS) 3.9 gigawatts, Wind Power Plants (PLTB) 0.5 gigawatts, and Biomass Power Plants (PLTBio) 0, 6 gigawatts

Currently, PLN has mapped opportunities that can be utilized to support the carbon-neutral acceleration program in 2060, one of which is a roadmap for developing clean energy plants in accordance with the Electric Power Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) for the period 2021-2030.

Zainal said the energy transition program currently being run by the company faces challenges, including in the engineering sector.

He encouraged PLN's subsidiary operating in the engineering sector, namely PT PLN Enjiniring, to promote innovation considering that clean energy plants will become the base load of the national electricity system in the future.

"The transition creates a new model from a centralized system to a decentralized system, investment-driven to be more budget-friendly, centralized operations to be more flexible, IT from just support to AI, and machine learning. Last but not least, the majority use fossil fuels to become a renewable source that is environmentally friendly," he added.

He hopes that engineering can develop methods to support the technological developments required by the energy transition process. In addition, engineering is also required to be able to develop PLN's already operating grid to be smarter and more flexible.

"This step is important so that various Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) plants when they are operational can later be distributed to customers with reliable quality," said Zainal.

Variable Renewable Energy is a renewable energy source that cannot be connected and synchronized directly with the electricity grid because of its fluctuating nature, such as wind power and solar power.

In contrast to renewable energy sources that can be controlled and relatively constant, such as hydroelectric or geothermal power plants.

President Director of PLN Engineering Didik Sudarmadi captures the world's optimism in welcoming the global energy transition that leads to new, renewable, and carbon-neutral energy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis of several countries in the world.