Ecobiz.asia – Indonesia’s state-owned energy company PT Pertamina (Persero) is preparing to start production at its green hydrogen pilot project at the Ulubelu geothermal field in Lampung, with output targeted at around 100 kilograms per day from November 2026.
Pertamina Senior Vice President of Business Sustainability Wenny Ipmawan said the pilot project uses geothermal energy to produce hydrogen through an electrolysis process.
“We already have a pilot in Ulubelu. At the Ulubelu geothermal field, we are utilizing geothermal energy for electrolysis, and hopefully by November 2026 the pilot will be producing around 100 kilograms per day,” Wenny said at the Green Economy 2045 Seminar on Tuesday (Sept. 29, 2026).
The hydrogen produced by the pilot could be used for power generation or operational needs at Pertamina’s refineries, he said.
“The hydrogen can be used for electricity or potentially for our refinery needs,” Wenny said.
He acknowledged that the cost of electricity generated from hydrogen remains relatively high from a commercial perspective. However, Pertamina will continue developing hydrogen technologies through pilot projects as part of its efforts to build a lower-carbon energy portfolio.
The Ulubelu project is part of Pertamina’s efforts to develop renewable-energy-based hydrogen production, particularly using geothermal resources, while assessing the commercial potential of hydrogen as a future low-carbon energy source. ***
