PLN Operates Plants With BioCNG Cofiring Made From Palm Waste Baku

The Belawan Steam Gas Power Plant (PLTGU), North Sumatra. (Doc PLN)

PT PLN (Persero) operates a co-firing Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG) made from palm oil waste at the Belawan Steam Gas Power Plant (PLTGU), North Sumatra.

PLN President Director, Darmawan Prasodjo, emphasized that BioCNG used at the Belawan PLTGU is produced from processing palm oil liquid waste or Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME).

"Indonesia as the largest palm oil producer in the world has significant potential to turn this waste into a sustainable renewable energy source," he said, Saturday, August 16.

This utilization not only presents energy solutions that are more environmentally friendly and economically stable, but also provides direct benefits for the community, such as creating new jobs, increasing farmers' income, encouraging the growth of the local processing industry, and reducing the impact of environmental pollution around plantation areas.

Meanwhile, the Director of Technology, Engineering, and Sustainability of PLN, Evy Haryadi, revealed that the potential for clean electricity from the use of BioCNG in North Sumatra reaches 478 GWh per year.

"Through the integration of BioCNG as an alternative fuel, PLN has succeeded in reducing dependence on fossil energy and at the same time empowering organic waste into clean energy. The use of BioCNG will contribute to net electricity production of 478 GWh per year, fuel savings equivalent to Rp48 billion per year and reducing CO2 emissions by 80 thousand tons per year," said Haryadi.

PLTGU Belawan has an installed capacity of 1,184 MW and contributes 10.96 percent of electricity supply in Sumatra and 30.75 percent in the North Sumatra region. Throughout 2024, the achievement of bio-firing at PLN plants reached 854,000 MWh, and the target will increase with the use of BioCNG.

Through this initiative, PLN proves the readiness of technology and its full commitment to accelerate the transition of clean energy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and develop sustainable renewable energy for Indonesia's future.