PLN to boost development of hydro, geothermal power plants

By Nova Farida

State-owned electricity firm PT PLN aims to boost the development of hydro and geothermal power plants in the country to help realize the government?s target for renewables to account for 23 percent of the energy mix in 2026.

Tohari Hadiat, Head of Renewables Division at PLN said that a total of 22,000 MW of renewable-based power plants will be developed over the next 10 years, of which about 20,000 MW will be hydro and geothermal power plants.

?Of the total additional 22,000 MW of renewable power plants, 20,000 MW will come from hydro and geothermal because of their huge potential,? he said recently.

Tohari said that according to the 2017-2026 electricity procurement business plan (or RUPTL) of PLN, there will be 6,209 MW of additional geothermal power plant capacity, and 12,342 MW of additional hydro power plant capacity.

As per end of last year, capacity of renewable-based power plants stood at 6,003 MW, or about 12 percent of the country?s total installed power plant capacity of 51,860 MW. ?Currently, there are about 2,000 proposals for renewables development,? Tohari said.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak