Successfully Producing Green Hydrogen, PLN Prepares Filling Stations In A Number Of Areas

JAKARTA - PT PLN (Persero) will present a Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS) or the first hydrogen filling station in Indonesia. This HRS development effort follows the inauguration of 21 Green Hydrogen Plant units spread across Indonesia on Monday, November 20. This step also makes PLN a pioneer in establishing a supply chain for future green hydrogen needs as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel.

PLN's Director of Corporate Planning and Business Development, Hartanto Wibowo, said that in the context of the energy transition, the main strategy that the government wants to implement is to reduce imported-based energy to domestic energy. Namely by moving from the use of fossil energy to clean and environmentally friendly energy, such as electricity and green hydrogen.

"In order to achieve Net Zero Emissions we will make various efforts, apart from using electricity, PLN also encourages the use of other green energy alternatives based on hydrogen. Indeed, for the transportation sector there are two options, the first is the use of battery-based electric cars (BEV) and electric cars that hydrogen-based (FCEV)," explained Hartanto.

Energy Transition

Hartanto acknowledged that this big effort requires a multilateral strategy. Because the execution must be based on appropriate technical and commercial visibility.

"We have to carry out an energy transition, we have to carry out decarbonization. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will collaborate with PLN on how to translate this strategic commitment effectively in the field," he added.

Main Director of PLN Indonesia Power (PLN IP) Edwin Nugraha Putra explained that the inauguration of 21 GHP units would increase the excess production capacity used for the first HRS in Indonesia. Edwin explained that the GHP product would be stored in a 156 bar pressure tube and then sent to PLTD Senayan using a hydrogen truck as the main supply at HRS.

"In the future, we will develop the existing GHP in our power plants, especially similar ones, so that production can be greater and add hydrogen refueling stations in a number of areas," said Edwin.

Main Expert Researcher, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Eniya Listiani Dewi added, an ecosystem for developing green hydrogen in the country must be formed immediately. He considers the potential to be very large because it also has the opportunity to enter the world's hydrogen supply chain.

"PLN already has many locations (GHP) and partnerships have also been developed. We can build (hydrogen refueling stations) from Jakarta to Patimban, because there is a greenport there and this potential could provide a hydrogen highway," he said.

Eniya also specifically appreciated PLN's steps to build the first HRS for transportation needs. This strategic effort has great potential to attract society to become more involved in the transition to environmentally friendly energy. "Well, in the future hydrogen for transportation will have the highest demand in 2060, not just in industry. Transportation will have 10 times more demand," added Eniya.