Mitsubishi, ITB to study decarbonization in Indonesia

A new MOU comes at a time when Indonesia is ramping up efforts to decarbonize its energy sector.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) have agreed to conduct joint research on clean energy solutions that will enable decarbonization in Indonesia, the companies announced.

Under terms of the five-year memorandum of understanding, the two companies plan feasibility studies, investigations, validations and research and development for technologies that will power the country’s energy transition. The research results building the foundation for discussions to establish a joint research and development center in Indonesia.

The online signing ceremony took place on Feb. 7, and was attended by the ambassador of Indonesia to Japan, H.E. Heri Akhmadi; the ambassador of Japan to Indonesia, H.E. Kenji Kanasugi; ITB Rector, Ms. Reini Wirahadikusumah; and MHI’s Head of Energy Transition and Power Headquarters, Ken Kawai.

“MHI has been at the forefront of supporting Indonesia in its energy transition for nearly half a century. Through this continued partnership with ITB, we seek to develop clean energy solutions that will accelerate decarbonization in Indonesia,” said MHI’s Head of Energy Transition and Power Headquarters Ken Kawai. “I am looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with ITB to achieve our mission net zero.”

ITB Rector, Ms. Reini Wirahadikusumah said: “During the past two years, we have been collaborating with MHI to conduct advanced feasibility studies in clean energy, especially in financial and technical evaluation of ammonia and biomass co-firing.”

A previous agreement between MHI and ITB enabled joint feasibility studies on emerging energy sources such as hydrogen and ammonia, as well as air quality control systems (AQCS) and microgrid solutions. Since that MOU was signed in 2020, MHI and ITB also collaborated on training Indonesia’s future engineers by conducting joint lectures on topics including big data analysis, biomass, integrated coal gasification combined cycle, hydrogen and AQCS, MHI said.

This new MOU comes at a time when Indonesia is ramping up efforts to decarbonize its energy sector evident in its recent commitments to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 29% by 2030 and achieve 23% renewable energy use by 2025, MHI said.