
- Based on the Ember Climate report, Indonesia ranks 9th in the largest CO2 emitter from the electricity sector in the world, reaching 193 million tons of CO2 in 2021.
- The long-term impacts of the Steam Power Plant, namely; Generating millions of tons of waste, producing harmful pollutants, damaging ecosystems and health problems.
- Indonesia has great potential for new and renewable energy reserves such as geothermal, wind, solar and ocean current energy. By preparing a Business Plan for the Supply of Electricity, there are green energy programs that lead to the achievement of a 23% NRE energy by 2025.
The reliance on steam power plants in Indonesia has long been a cornerstone of the country’s energy infrastructure, but this dependency comes at a significant environmental cost. With the ongoing challenges of climate change, the carbon footprint of these plants has become a critical issue, raising concerns about their long-term sustainability and impact on the environment.
To better understand the environmental impact of steam power plants, it is essential to examine why these plants significantly contribute to the carbon footprint, primarily due to their reliance on fossil fuels for energy production.
Why Steam Power Plants Contribute to the Carbon Footprint?

The invention of the steam engine during the industrial revolution brought a number of benefits to the industry in producing in larger quantities and quickly, one of the sectors that utilized the working system of the steam engine was the power plant which was required to provide electricity needs that continued to increase. The first Steam Power Plant in Indonesia was built in 1897, on the Ciliwung River which is the largest in the Gambir area.
Steam power plants use a wide range of fuels, especially coal and fuel oil and Marine Fuel Oil for initial start-ups. According to PLN’s report, until 2021 Indonesia has 126 units of Steam Power Plants spread across the Regional Main Unit, Generation Main Unit, Generation and Distribution Main Unit, and PLN Development Main Unit in various Indonesian provinces. Indonesia is still very dependent on coal as an energy source for power generation. Coal-based Steam Power Plants are one of the main contributors to air pollution in Indonesia.
Burning coal produces emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine particles that contribute to air pollution and acid rain. Meanwhile, based on the Ember Climate report, Indonesia ranks 9th in the largest CO2 emitters from the electricity sector in the world, reaching 193 million tons of CO2 in 2021. In addition, according to data from Greenpeace Indonesia, around 60% of electrical energy in Indonesia is generated from coal-based coal-fired power plants.
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Long-Term Impact of Steam Power Plants

Steam Power plants have several long-term impacts on the environment:
- Generating millions of tons of waste
Waste produced from Steam Power Plants is Bottom ash and fly ash which come from coal combustion residues, as well as wastewater from blowdown boilers and condensers. The process of managing hazardous waste that does not meet standards and the accumulation of unmanaged waste will have a bad effect on the environment.
- Produces Harmful Pollutants
The residual coal combustion called fly ash contains sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and fine particles that contribute to air pollution and acid rain.
- Damaging the Ecosystem
Deforestation and mountaindrop removal in the coal mining process have a long-term destructive impact on the ecosystem. Mountain Removal causes toxic contamination in the soil and will be carried into the ecosystem through rain and water flows. In particular, these conditions are capable of damaging the biodiversity of local ecosystems by expelling or killing species populations.
- Health Issues
Respiratory system disorders are one of the mildest negative impacts caused by the large number of coal-fired power plants. This negative impact is often experienced by people living around coal-fired power plants. Referring to a collaborative report by Greenpeace and Harvard University in August 2015, this respiratory system disorder can even lead to premature death at a more severe level.
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Commitment to the Transition Process in the Energy Sector in Indonesia

With Indonesia’s commitment to achieving Net Zero Emission, which is targeted for 2060, this represents the government’s strong foundation for transitioning to renewable energy sources. The government is currently preparing a roadmap for the early retirement of steam power plants. At present, the early retirement of coal plants is still guided by the regulations outlined in Presidential Regulation No. 112 of 2022 concerning the Acceleration of Renewable Energy Development for the Supply of Electricity. Thirteen coal-fired power plants are planned for early retirement, taking into account economic factors, while ensuring there is no disruption in supply or an increase in electricity prices.
Besides that, there are several criteria that are regulated, for example, the age, then the performance, efficiency, and productivity of the operating coal plant. The government currently continues to make efforts to achieve the use of cleaner green energy. Among them is by preparing a Business Plan for the Supply of Electricity, in which there are green energy programs that lead to the achievement of a 23% NRE energy mix by 2025.
Indonesia has great potential for new and renewable energy reserves such as geothermal, wind, solar and ocean current energy. In fact, Indonesia has 40% of the world’s geothermal energy, which can make Indonesia the top 10 largest geothermal energy producing countries in the world if it is managed properly. Indonesia is expected to develop renewable energy potential like other developed countries in order to compete in the energy sector in the future.
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Editor : Alfidah Dara Mukti
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