State electricity company PT PLN (Persero) disclosed that Indonesia has an annual surplus of roughly 125 tons of hydrogen generated as a byproduct of its power plant cooling systems, presenting a potential feedstock for the country’s emerging hydrogen transport sector. The disclosure, made by PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo at a Jakarta hydrogen summit on July 21, comes as the utility explores partnerships with automakers and Pertamina to build out a domestic hydrogen supply chain.
Key Facts At A Glance
- PLN produces an estimated 200 to 203 tons of hydrogen annually as a byproduct of generator cooling systems at its power plants
- Only about 75 tons of that output is consumed internally each year
- The remaining 125 to 130 tons is currently unused and considered surplus
- The disclosure was made by PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo on July 21, 2026
- The announcement came at the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition 2026 in Jakarta
- PLN and state energy company Pertamina are collaborating to develop a domestic hydrogen supply chain
- PLN has held discussions with automakers, including Toyota, as well as companies from Germany and China, on deploying hydrogen-powered buses
State-owned electricity company PT PLN (Persero) said Tuesday that Indonesia holds an annual surplus of approximately 125 tons of unused hydrogen, a byproduct of the company’s own power generation operations that officials now see as an untapped resource for the country’s clean transportation ambitions.
Speaking at the Global Hydrogen Ecosystem Summit and Exhibition 2026 in Jakarta on July 21, PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said the company produces roughly 200 tons of hydrogen each year, of which only about 75 tons are used internally, leaving the remainder idle. A separate account of the same remarks put total annual output slightly higher, at approximately 203 tons, with a resulting surplus of 125 to 130 tons.
Byproduct Of Cooling Systems
The hydrogen in question is not produced through dedicated electrolysis or production facilities. Instead, it is generated across PLN’s power plant fleet, where it serves as a coolant for generators, a common industrial practice at large thermal facilities. Because internal plant operations require only a fraction of what is generated, the excess has accumulated as an underutilized resource within PLN’s own infrastructure.
Building A Domestic Supply Chain
According to PLN, the surplus has become the basis for a collaboration with state-owned energy company Pertamina aimed at developing Indonesia’s domestic hydrogen supply chain. The partnership would pair PLN’s existing hydrogen output with Pertamina’s broader energy distribution and processing capabilities, though specific technical or investment details of the collaboration were not disclosed at the summit.
Hydrogen Mobility Talks
PLN has also opened discussions with automotive manufacturers about applying the surplus to transport. The company has held talks with Toyota, along with unnamed companies from Germany and China, regarding the deployment of hydrogen-powered buses. No timelines, pilot programs, or firm commitments were announced.
