PLN EPI Targets Green Hydrogen Development for Aviation Sector

PLN Group has also made hydrogen and ammonia part of its long-term strategy to support a low-carbon energy system.

Jakarta (ANTARA) — PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) has begun building a green hydrogen ecosystem and is targeting the low-carbon hydrogen market for the industrial sector, power generation, and sustainable aviation fuel.

“Beyond continuing to develop renewable energy, nuclear power, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), energy storage, and the Green Energy Super Grid, PLN Group has also made hydrogen and ammonia part of its long-term strategy to support a low-carbon energy system,” said Anita Puspita Sari, Vice President of Biomass Strategy and Business Development at PLN EPI, in a statement received in Jakarta on Sunday.

In the initial phase, PLN EPI is targeting industrial sectors with relatively high hydrogen demand, such as the fertiliser and ammonia industry, oil refineries and petrochemicals, the steel and metals industry, and the chemical industry.

These sectors are considered to have the potential to become early markets for green hydrogen development in Indonesia.

In addition to meeting industrial needs, PLN EPI also sees major opportunities in the development of electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF). Through this technology, green hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide captured from emissions to produce synthetic crude, which is then processed into low-carbon aviation fuel under a closed carbon loop concept.

Anita explained that demand for e-SAF is projected to keep rising as international regulations develop that encourage the use of sustainable aviation fuel to curb emissions in the aviation sector.

“Indonesia has enormous potential to become a key player in the green hydrogen industry because it is supported by abundant renewable energy sources. The next challenge is to accelerate the building of the ecosystem, mastery of technology, and the creation of a market capable of supporting sustainable hydrogen development,” she said.

Through the development of an integrated green hydrogen ecosystem covering technology, supply chain and markets, PLN EPI continues to strengthen the transformation of its primary energy business towards low-carbon energy.