PLN studies microalgae carbon capture project at Jakarta power plant

By Romel S. Gurky

State electricity firm PT PLN (Persero) is studying a carbon capture project using microalgae technology at its Muara Karang gas turbine power plant in Jakarta.

Ricky Andrian, Vice President of Business Development at PLN said in a social media post that the project aims to capture about 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from the plant’s chimney emissions.

According to Andrian, the concept uses microalgae to absorb carbon dioxide from the flue gas stream, with the technology expected to capture up to 90% of CO2 emissions before the algae biomass is utilized for further applications.

The initiative remains at the research stage and is being explored as part of PLN’s efforts to test carbon capture, utilization and storage related technologies at its power generation facilities.

Read also : PLN plans third hydrogen refueling station

If implemented, the project would mark the first carbon capture and utilization system using algae technology at a power plant in Indonesia.

Andrian said the pilot concept builds on PLN’s earlier energy transition initiatives at Muara Karang, where the utility began producing green hydrogen in 2023 as part of its low carbon technology development program.

Carbon capture technologies are increasingly being studied by power producers as a way to reduce emissions from existing fossil fuel plants while maintaining electricity supply during the transition to cleaner energy system.

Editing by Alexander Ginting