PLN Amongia Mixed Trial Group For Gresik PLTU Fuel

PLN conducted a trial use of ammonia as fuel for PLTU Gresik. (Photo: Doc. PLN)

PT PLN (Persero) through the subholding of PT PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP) with IHI Corporation Japan conducted a co-firing of ammonia at the Gresik Steam Power Plant (PLTU) Unit 1 (100 MW).

Head of the Center for Research and Testing of Electricity, New Energy, Renewable and Energy Conservation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Senda Hurmuzan Kanam explained, the use of new and renewable energy (EBT) continues to be encouraged by the government.

One way is to increase the use of biomass and ammonia waste as a mixture of fuel (co-firing) in power plants in Indonesia.

This method is expected to be able to accelerate the energy transition in Indonesia.

"This (use) of technology (co-firing) should emphasize Indonesia's commitment to accelerate the target of Net Zero Emission (NZE) in 2060. I thank PLN NP for its initiation in cooperating with IHI Corporation Japan in an effort to create a greener and cleaner environment," said Senda in her statement, Thursday, October 13.

After PLTU Paiton became a pioneer co-firing biomass and commercially operated on June 10, 2020, PLN NP continued to strive to develop biomass co-firing technology and had commercialized co-firing at 15 PLTUs. Furthermore, PLN NP continuously made various efforts and innovations to increase the use of co-firing in various managed PLTUs.

President Director of PLN Nusantara Power, Ruly Firmansyah, said the ammonia co-firing trial was an advanced phase after PLN NP succeeded in developing biomass co-firing in the last 2 years at the coal power plant.

He continued, both biomass co-firing and ammonia are part of a decarbonization program aimed at reducing carbon emissions or greenhouse gases from thermal plants.

Co-firing biomass can be applied to coal power plants, while ammonia co-firing can be applied to gas and fuel power plants.

"Until now, we have always encouraged the use of co-firing at our PLTU. Currently, PLN NP has succeeded in implementing co-firing at 15 PLTUs. I thank IHI for its cooperation and committee with PLN NP in prioritizing clean energy, especially the use of ammonia to support the achievement of Net Zero Emission in 2060," explained Ruly.

PLN through PLN NP subholding collaborated with IHI Corporation Japan through the signing of the MoU for Clean and Green Energy Development Research which was held on Monday, April 25.

The signing which was carried out virtually in Jakarta and Tokyo was a series of events at the Asian Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meeting.

Through this MoU, PLN NP and IHI Corporation are committed to conducting a study at PLTU Gresik 2times100 MW, where this study includes the use of ammonia as fuel for co-firing and mono-firing purposes. This PLTU will become an ammonia co-firing pilot project whose hope is to support the decarbonization program of other fossil fuel generating plants managed by PLN Nusantara Power.