Jakarta, MINE – PT PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) emphasized its commitment to accelerate the development of bioenergy as a pillar of the low-carbon energy transition, while expanding the implementation of biomass cofiring in Steam Power Plants (PLTU).
In the Breakout Forum & Knowledge Hub held at Electricity Connect 2025, PLN EPI Biomass Director Hokkop Situngkir and PLN EPI Biomass Strategy & Business Development VP Anita Puspita Sari emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration to build a strong and sustainable biomass ecosystem.
Hokkop said that 95% of the biomass used by PLN comes from agro waste, forestry waste, and wood and paper industry residues.
“We do not use the approach of planting and replanting. Our biomass is waste-based. The national potential reaches 500 million tons, but our utilization is only around 5 percent,” explained Hokkop.
He assesses that biomass challenges are not only in PLN’s readiness, but also in regulations, infrastructure and the industrial ecosystem.
“Unlike PLTU which was built complete with an ecosystem, the co-firing program was entered in the middle of the road so it does not yet have adequate facilities. Here lies a big opportunity for PLN EPI and the private sector to build an integrated supply chain and processing facilities,” he said.
According to him, the main goal of cofiring is to support the energy transition and achieve Net Zero Emissions.
“Abroad, when we talk about cofiring, the first thing we look at is its contribution to Net Zero Emissions. For them, Net Zero Emissions are benefits that can be converted into carbon,” he said.
To strengthen supply chain resilience, PLN EPI is developing a partnership model involving cooperatives as sub-hubs and aggregators as biomass processors.
“We have just signed an MoU with the Ministry of Cooperatives. They are ready to become a sub-hub for collecting biomass, while the aggregator will process it into pellets or other forms that meet generator standards,” explained Hokkop.
He also emphasized that the quality aspect of biomass is non-negotiable.
“Cofiring is how to make biological molecules similar to fossil fuels. Many products on the market have the risk of reducing plant performance, such as causing derating. Therefore, we have to ensure that the source and quality of biomass is truly safe and meets operational standards,” he stressed.
48 Cofiring Locations Operate, Emissions Drop by 2.2 Million Tons
Meanwhile, VP Strategy & Biomass Business Development Anita Puspita Sari emphasized that biomass cofiring is the energy transition solution that is most ready to be implemented. Approaching the end of 2025, as many as 48 PLTU locations have implemented cofiring, replacing some coal with biomass without the need to build new plants.
“The contribution is significant. There is an equivalent emission reduction obtained from replacing fossil fuels with biomass,” said Anita.
According to him, the national biomass potential is very large, starting from empty palm oil bunches, agricultural waste, wood and other organic residues. However, the main challenges lie in logistics and centralization of raw materials. “Raw materials are spread throughout Indonesia. Collecting them is not easy because the location is not centralized,” he explained.
From a quality aspect, not all biomass can be used directly.
“Raw materials based on wood or palm shells are low risk, but biomass from agriculture or waste is middle to high risk so it must be processed to be equivalent to coal,” explained Anita.
PLN EPI also faces transportation challenges because biomass cannot fully rely on water modes like coal. “When the cofiring ratio increases, dependence on land transportation creates its own challenges because it depends on public facilities,” he said.
To answer these challenges, PLN EPI has prepared short and long term strategies, starting from improving the quality of raw materials, developing biomass marketplace applications, to building a sustainable supply chain ecosystem.
“For sustainability, we cannot just rely on by-products. A planting base is still needed to guarantee security of supply,” stressed Anita.
He closed his presentation by emphasizing the importance of regulatory support and synergy between stakeholders. “We need to unlock the potential of bioenergy as a substitute for coal,” he concluded.
PLN EPI emphasizes that bioenergy is a new growth space that can strengthen national energy security, reduce emissions, and open up economic opportunities for communities, cooperatives and industry. With large biomass potential, a comprehensive technology strategy, and cross-stakeholder collaboration, Indonesia has a golden opportunity to accelerate its leap towards green energy.
“PLN EPI invites all partners to move together from waste to energy, from biomass to solutions, from today towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.”
Source: www.tambang.co.id
