Have Hydro And Large Geothermal Potential, PLN President Director: There Is StillRUANG For Development

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) is committed to accelerating Indonesia's energy transition by increasing the capacity of new and renewable energy-based power plants (EBT) with the two largest potentials, namely geothermal and water-based power plants (hydro) to replace coal-based plants.

Indonesia is one of the countries with the largest EBT potential in the world. It must be admitted, the challenges of developing EBT are big because in terms of the development process are long. So we need a thorough feasibility study and careful planning," said Darmawan President Director Prasodjo in a statement to the media, Friday, September 23.

Darmawan explained that the potential for water in Indonesia is 75 gigawatts (GW), but its utilization is only around 5 GW or 6.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the potential for geothermal is 29 GW, the second largest in the world, with only about 2.2 GW or 7.5 percent utilization.

"This means that there is still a lot of room for us to develop," explained Darmawan.

Director of Geothermal, Directorate General of EBTKE, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Harris Yahya added, geothermal and water are indeed two types of EBT that can be a mainstay in the future considering the potential is very large.

However, more in-depth studies are still needed to measure its demand, supply, and reliability to reduce carbon emissions.

Currently we already have an early retirement program for PLTU. So we have to think about the subititude immediately. Not only replacing capacity, but also as a baseload. Storage also plays a very important role if we talk about reliable electricity supply, explains Harris.

In addition to geothermal and water, Harris continued, the potential for Indonesian EBT is still very large, including solar, wind and sea power.

The various sources of EBT can be synergized in order to be able to contribute optimally.

I am very happy that PLN is collaborating to utilize sea energy. Because so far we have not had a commercial development. We hope that in the future this can be like wind power which was previously seen as pessimistic but has a very good performance in Sulawesi," he added.

Director of New, Renewable Project and Energy Management of PLN Wiluyo Kusdwiharto emphasized that PLN continues to increase the mix energy mix through the addition of electricity capacity and production through the EBT plant.

The portion of EBT capacity development according to the 2021-2030 Electric Power Supply Business Plan (RUPTL) reached 51.6 percent or equivalent to 20.9 GW.

In 2022, PLN will hold an EBT generator of 1.5 GW. Along with this commitment, PLN has carried out many programs including 5 collaborations related to the development of EBT with various parties. For now, the PLN EBT generator has reached 8,512 MW," said Wiluyo.

Wiluyo said that PLN seriously co-firing biomasses at 32 PLTU locations. PLN has 52 PLTUs to be co-firing by 2025.

Especially for the development of geothermal plants, he said that currently there are PTLP Sorik Merapi (195 MW), PTLP Sokoria (30 MW), and Patuha (55 MW). While hydro plants have hydro power plants in Jatigede (110 MW), PLTA Peusangan (88 MW), hydropower plant Asahan III (174 MW), Cisokan hydropower plant (1,040 MW).

Of course PLN cannot stand alone because it must collaborate with all stakeholders, investors, private parties, and the government to develop these programs. We hope that this synergy can make Indonesia's energy transition program a success," concluded Wiluyo.