Ministry of Energy: Cheap hydrogen through utilisation of excess electricity

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) has stated that the cost of hydrogen production, particularly green hydrogen, can be reduced by utilising excess electricity from sources such as Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA) and Solar Power Plants (PLTS). Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New, Renewable Energy, and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) at the Ministry of ESDM, explained in Jakarta on Wednesday that unabsorbed electricity from the grid can be redirected to produce hydrogen. ‘Hydrogen can be cheap if we produce it from excess electricity. So, the excess electricity can come from hydro, it can come from solar,’ Eniya said. She explained that this potential is growing with the development of national solar power capacity. According to her, if solar power capacity reaches 100 gigawatts (GW), the electricity generated during low-load periods could be used for hydrogen production without relying on battery storage. It is known that the production cost of green hydrogen ranges from 3 to 7 US dollars per kilogram, grey hydrogen costs 1 to 2 US dollars per kilogram, blue hydrogen costs 1.5 to 3 US dollars per kilogram, and natural hydrogen costs 0.5 to 1.5 US dollars per kilogram. Eniya noted that hydrogen has a significant opportunity to support national industry, especially the fertiliser and chemical sectors, considering that some raw material needs are currently still dependent on imports. Furthermore, Eniya explained that hydrogen is a secondary energy source produced from primary energy, so its development is highly dependent on the availability of energy sources. In addition to green hydrogen, the Ministry of ESDM is also exploring the potential of natural hydrogen (natural/white hydrogen) sourced directly from the earth as a potential primary energy source in the future.