JAKARTA – State-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) has been continually trying to increase its renewable energy mix from biomass as part of its efforts to help the government to realize the Net Zero Emission (NZE) in 2060 or earlier.

One of the major sources of biomass is the empty oil palm fruit bunches or locally known as ‘tankos’, which was emerging as a much-discussed green idea during the event of Indonesia International Heating Technology Exhibition (HEATECH), which was held in JIEXPO Jakarta on Friday, 06 October 2023.

Trois Dilisusendi, Coordinator of Bioenergy Investment and Cooperation at the ministry of energy and mineral resources (MEMR), said that the empty bunches in the forms of pellets add into the list of biomass wastes that can be used for biomass co-firing in power generation.

But he reminded that it is not an easy task to process the biomass wastes into a biomass raw material for power generation. ”Initially, we’re facing technological difficulty. But Alhamdulillah (Thanks God), we’re now able to produce the palm biomass pellets from the ‘tankos’ and can be used for co-firing in power generation,” said Trois.

Trois hopes that the innovation can be applied in the 52 coal-fired power plants (PLTU) owned by PT PLN, which have been mandated for the implementation of co-firing projects.

PLN Energi Primer Indonesia’s (PLN EPI) President Director Iwan Agung Firstantara said that they are committed to fully supporting the government’s plan to reach the target of co-firing projects at 10.2 million tons of biomass pellets by the year 2025.

According to him, the substitution of coal to the biomass is a strategic project for PLN in generating electricity for the public and supporting the green efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

”Besides reducing our reliance on coal, this green step can become one of our ways to cut carbon emissions to realize the NZE in 2060. By applying biomass co-firing, PLN can produce clean energy with minimal cost,” said Iwan.

During the same occasion,  PLN EPI and PT Elektrika Konstruksi Nusantara (EKN) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the use of the empty oil palm fruit bunches for biomass co-firing in PLTU Bengkayang in Sambas regency, West Kalimantan province.

Both companies have agreed to directly involve the people of Sambas regency in the process of the biomass pellet production. (*)

Source: sawitku.id