Kadin NTT's wood chips co-firing renewable energy development programme is used as a pilot project by PLN for other provinces in Indonesia

Continuing the Kadin Impact Award (KIA) judging series, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) conducted a roadshow to Besipae, South Central Timor District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on 25 October 2023. On the occasion, Kadin NTT introduced a programme of socio-economic and environmental impact initiatives committed to supporting the latest innovations in the green energy sector through Green Energy Co-Firing Wood Chips.

Kadin NTT's initiative in supporting the government to make an energy transition towards Net Zero Emission has given birth to a co-firing programme combined with wood chips technology. This innovation originated from a research collaboration between Nusa Cendana University, PT Timor Bio Energy (TBE), and Kadin NTT that sought to find a substitute for coal as a source of electrical energy in NTT Province.

The results of the research collaboration of these stakeholders found a type of standard calorific wood (GAR) that has the same content as coal. The research findings encourage the transition of coal use with GAR to be carried out. Currently, the use of coal substitution as a renewable energy supply at the Bolok-Kupang PLTU has reached 5% or 30 tonnes/day.

Seeing the extraordinary potential, Kadin NTT also collaborates with the NTT Community Empowerment Office (PMD), where there are 17 working groups assisted by Bumdes who work as timber suppliers. Until 2023, GAR production has five factories in three regencies / cities in NTT. This cooperation also opens the potential for new jobs for communities around NTT. To date, there are at least 600 new job openings for local communities.

The Acting Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, Yukki Nugrahawan Hanafi, expressed his appreciation for Kadin NTT's contribution in supporting the energy transition programme towards net zero emission through co-firing wood chips innovation. "This is a form of inclusive and innovative collaboration between Kadin NTT Province and the local government, private sector, and community in an effort to improve a sustainable local economy by utilising green energy as a new renewable energy source," he said.

Responding to the appreciation of the PLH Chairman of Kadin Indonesia, the Chairman of Kadin NTT, Bobby Liyanto, said this programme was a response to the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable energy. "This collaboration is the right response to the need for new renewable energy in the midst of climate change challenges, we hope that what is done by Kadin NTT can also inspire it to be implemented in other regions," said Bobby.

The renewable energy development programme by Kadin NTT has been used as a pilot project by PT PLN Indonesia where various visits and comparative studies were carried out by various experts. "Apart from being used in the Bolok-Kupang PLTU, Kadin NTT has received visits from Energy Primer Indonesia (EPI), Java-Bali Power Plant and PLN from provinces throughout Indonesia for comparative studies and now the same plant has also begun to be built in other provinces," said Bobby.

Chairman of the Green Energy Co-Firing Programme, Yusak Victor Benu, added, "This programme not only has a positive impact on the environment, but also opens up new job opportunities for the community. We hope that through this collaborative approach, we can create sustainable economic growth and improve the quality of life of the surrounding community."