PLN Builds Hydrogen Charging Station For Vehicles In Senayan Area

The location of PLN's Hydrogen Charging Station (HRS) in Senayan, Jakarta, which is targeted to operate in February 2024 (Photo: PLN)

PT PLN (Persero) will soon operate the first Hydrogen Filling Station (HRS) in Indonesia located in Senayan, Jakarta.

The progress of HRS development has now reached 98 percent and is targeted for completion in February 2024.

PLN President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo said, this aggressive step will continue to utilize the production of green hydrogen from 21 Green Hydrogen Plants that the company has operated since November 2023.

"Not only electric vehicle charging infrastructure, we are also ready to present the first Hydrogen Refueling Station in Indonesia as an environmentally friendly energy option for vehicles," said Darmawan.

This almost completed HRS is ready to serve all types of hydrogen-based vehicles from private vehicles, public transportation, to heavy vehicles. Because in this first phase of construction, HRS Senayan has been equipped with HRS 150 bars, 300 bars and will gradually be increased to 700 bars.

PLN is also making hydrogen-based electric vehicle innovations which will be exhibited at the inauguration of HRS Senayan. The vehicle made by PLN Nusantara Power Subholding is based on 150 bars of pressure.

"The development of this green hydrogen supply chain also strengthens national energy security. This means that we switch from fuel, which is mostly based on imports to green hydrogen produced domestically," he added.

Based on PLN's calculations, the green hydrogren fuel produced from the rest of the power plant's operations is very competitive when compared to fuel. The comparison is that per 1 kilometer (km) of fuel cars costs Rp1,400,-, while electric cars are Rp370,- per km, and hydrogen cars are only Rp350,- per km.

"So, this energy transition is not only to reduce the use of high-emissioned energy in the transportation sector, but at the same time switch to environmentally friendly energy, even zero emissions, and of course at a much cheaper price," he explained.

Darmawan explained, HRS Senayan will be more strategic because there is also a hydrogen-based electric vehicle charger that has the same function as the Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (SPKLU).

There, hydrogen Center and Hydrogen Gallery Room were also built as training and education centers related to hydrogen in Indonesia.

For information, PLN can currently produce 199 tons of green hydrogen. Of these total productions, PLN only uses 75 tons for generating operational needs, while the remaining 124 tons can be used for other needs. This amount can be used to serve 424 units of cell electric vehicles, so that it can save imports of 1.55 million liters/year and reduce carbon emissions to 3.72 million kg of CO2/year.

To run this program, PLN has collaborated with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Indonesia Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy (IFHE).