PLN And Masdar Will Develop Cirata PLTS Capacity To 500 MW

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC together with Masdar signed an agreement with the Indonesian state-owned electricity company PLN to continue the plan to develop the capacity of the Cirata floating PLTS to 500 megawatts (MW).

Masdar and PLN are also exploring opportunities for environmentally friendly hydrogen.

The agreement signed by Masdar's Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, PLN Group's President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, and PLN NP President Director, Ruly Firmansyah, includes a framework agreement for joint studies regarding the increase in the capacity of Cirata floating PLTS to three times to 500 MW.

The two companies also agreed to explore renewable energy options worldwide and prospects for green hydrogen development, which has great potential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries (difficult to decarbonize), including steel, construction, transportation, and aviation.

With abundant solar resources, the UAE and Indonesia are in top position to become the centers for green hydrogen production.

The UAE and Indonesia have ambitious zero carbon targets that will be supported by more in-depth cooperation between Masdar and PLN.

"Masdar hopes to expand clean energy cooperation with PLN. We are very proud to have successfully inaugurated the floating PLTS with a capacity of 145MW (192MWp) with our partners earlier this month," said Masdar Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi in a statement received by VOI, Monday, December 4.

In September, Masdar and PLN signed an agreement to develop Phase II from the Cirata PLTS by increasing capacity to 500 MW.

This comes after a new regulatory change from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing in Indonesia, which now allows up to 20 percent of water coverage for the use of renewable energy.

Built on water, the Cirata plant reduces land use, a major consideration for countries like Indonesia that have limited land but abundant water.

The effect of water cooling can also increase efficiency, and solar panels reduce evaporation, saving water for drinking and irrigation.

In February, Masdar also jumped into the geothermal (earth-hot) market after making a strategic investment in Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Indonesia is the second largest geothermal market in the world.