New partnership to accelerate Indonesia’s renewable energy transition
The University of Melbourne has partnered with Indonesia’s government-owned electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PT PLN) (Persero) to help the corporation transform its workforce and achieve its net zero emission goal by 2060.
A newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will open the way for both organisations to explore a range of multilayered engagement initiatives that will see education and research opportunities for University of Melbourne students and staff as one of many benefits from the relationship.
PT PLN (Persero) is Indonesia’s national electricity company – generating, transmitting and distributing electricity across the country. Presently, PLN’s power generation is 85 per cent fossil fuel based. Its assets have been valued at over AUD $161 million, according to the PT PLN (Persero) 2021 Financial Report.
Through this partnership, PLN will collaborate with the University, both through sponsoring staff for postgraduate studies – specifically in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology (FEIT), the Melbourne Law School and the Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE), and through creating custom education offerings.
From left: Front – Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor International (Indonesia) Prof Vedi Hadiz, Professor Frank Vetere (FEIT), Mr Yusuf Didi Setiarto (PLN).
Rear – Melissa Banks (Austrade), Mr Dedi Budi Utomo and Mr Ridho Utomo (PLN).
Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor International (Indonesia) Professor Vedi Hadiz and FEIT Deputy Dean (Engagement) Professor Frank Vetere co-signed the MOU with Mr Yusuf Didi Setiarto, PLN’s Director of Legal and Human Capital, to cement the partnership.
Mr Setiarto said that PLN plans to fully transform its workforce, shifting the technical focus and expertise away from fossil fuels to renewable energy and the business management culture away from a government-owned company to a globally operating corporation.
"Collaboration with the University of Melbourne, one of the world's best universities, opens up numerous opportunities for PLN's employees and technology institutes to gain broad access to knowledge, information and research that can be implemented for the purpose of achieving net zero emissions and sustainable PLN business growth," Mr Setiarto said.
From left: Mr Muhammad Ahsin Sidqi (IT PLN), Professor Iwa Garniwa (Rector IT PLN), Dominique Goodwin (FBE), Professor Denny Oetomo (FEIT), Ms Riziki Yayu Feberina (PLN), Mr Ridho Utomo (PLN), Mr Dedi Budi Utomo (PLN), Ms Jane McAlear (RIC), Mr Yusuf Didi Setiarto (PLN), Professor Shanton Chang (CIS), Dr Behzad Rismanchi (FEIT), Dr Lachlan McKenzie and Mr Andesta (PLN).
Professor Hadiz said the collaboration would serve as an example, helping find solutions to one of the world's ‘big problems’ in the pursuit of renewable energy, through international collaboration and by countries learning from one another’s experiences.
"This partnership with one of the largest corporations in Indonesia will bring many opportunities for our academics and students to work with PLN and help the company achieve their Net Zero goal by 2060. The partnership is well aligned with our own sustainable development goals and extends the University of Melbourne’s research network in Indonesia," Professor Vetere said.
The delegation met with the FEIT Associate Dean International Professor Shanton Chang and academics from FEIT Infrastructure and Mechanical Engineering to discuss a range of joint research initiatives, including Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and an opportunity for PLN to join an in-progress application for a new Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre.
PLN is hoping to sponsor at least 10 students for postgraduate programs in Melbourne next year, working towards a goal of at least 15 per cent of their workforce having obtained a master’s degree. The company is currently also exploring co-funding arrangements with the Indonesian scholarship body LPDP and, if successful, plans to further expand their staff training program significantly.