Companies explore green hydrogen-powered ferries in Indonesia

Several projects are underway which could see Indonesia's oil-fuelled ferries be powered by hydrogen and batteries.

IMAGE: ASDP ferries operate between Indonesian islands. ASDP

French power company HDF Energy, German engineering firm Neuman & Esser and Germany’s Society for International Cooperation will study whether hybrid hydrogen and battery-powered ferries can run between Indonesian islands.

As the world’s largest archipelagic country, Indonesia relies heavily on ferries to connect its more than 17,000 islands. The ferries are mostly powered by fossil fuels and face electric grid limitations in the country’s remote regions.

Coal made up around 35% of the country’s energy supply in 2023, followed by oil at 26%, according to International Energy Agency data.

HDF Energy is already developing 23 hydrogen power plants in eastern Indonesia.

In April, HDF’s Indonesian subsidiary signed a separate agreement with the country’s transport ministry, ferry operator ASDP Indonesia Ferry and state-owned utility PLN to study low-carbon shipping.

ADSP operates many ferry routes in eastern Indonesia and is exploring options to convert its fleet and port infrastructure. One option is to replace traditional diesel engines with green hydrogen-powered systems.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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