Archives June 2025

Today, we still rely heavily on fossil fuels as our primary source of energy. While these resources have played a crucial role in powering the global economy and industries, they come with significant health risks and environmental damage.

To reduce this dependence, it’s time we accelerate the transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy. The truth is, we already have alternatives ready to replace coal and petroleum.

Let’s explore the best energy options available to us today.

Why Do We Need to Move Away from Fossil Fuels?

Global warming is largely driven by the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil. The combustion process causes severe harm to both the environment and human health.

Extracting and using fossil fuels leads to deforestation, land displacement, ecosystem degradation, and loss of biodiversity.

Toxic waste from fossil fuel processing often contaminates freshwater sources, rivers, and oceans, endangering communities that rely on clean water access.

Moreover, air pollutants from fossil fuel combustion increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Unfortunately, Indonesia remains highly dependent on fossil fuels. This calls for strong commitment, progressive policies, and investment in clean and sustainable energy infrastructure.

Read More: Decarbonization, Why the World Must Shift to Clean Energy?

What Are the Best Alternatives to Fossil Fuels?

To avoid worsening environmental destruction and health hazards caused by coal and oil, we must transition to cleaner and greener energy sources.

Here are several promising alternatives:

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

LNG is derived from natural gas that is cooled to -162°C, transforming it into a liquid for easier storage and distribution, especially in areas without pipeline networks. Although still a fossil fuel, LNG is cleaner and more efficient than coal and oil.

Switching from coal to LNG can reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by about 25%, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) by around 90%, and it produces almost no sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or other harmful particulates.

Read More: What’s the Difference Between LPG and LNG? A Clear Breakdown

Solar Energy

Solar power is one of the most abundant and eco-friendly renewable energy sources. It harnesses sunlight to generate electricity using solar panels or photovoltaic systems.

Indonesia’s location along the equator makes it ideal for solar energy development, with year-round sunshine providing enormous potential.

Wind Energy

Wind power is generated by using turbines to convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity, without combustion, which means zero emissions.

Wind energy is abundant and free, especially in coastal regions, highlands, or open plains where wind speeds are consistently high.

Read More: The Crucial Role of Alternative Electricity Sources in Shaping Our Future

Hydropower (Water Energy)

This energy is generated by using flowing river water or waterfalls to drive turbines in hydroelectric power plants.

It utilizes water’s kinetic energy to generate electricity without emitting carbon. Hydropower plants can also help with flood control and agricultural irrigation.

Biomass Energy

Biomass comes from organic matter such as crop waste, wood, and animal manure, which can be processed into energy.

Through combustion or fermentation, biomass can be turned into biogas to power households, industries, or transportation. It also helps reduce organic waste buildup, which would otherwise harm the environment.

Geothermal Energy

Geothermal energy comes from the Earth’s natural heat. Steam or hot water from underground reservoirs is used to drive turbines and produce electricity.

Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is one of the world’s richest countries in geothermal resources. Harnessing this energy supports national power capacity while enabling a cleaner energy transition.

Read More: Why LNG Plays a Key Role in the Global Energy Transition?

Why LNG Is a Strong Contender to Replace Coal and Oil?

LNG is recognized as a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal or petroleum. It emits significantly less carbon when used, helping reduce environmental impact.

LNG is clear, odorless, and non-corrosive. It’s also less flammable and safer to transport compared to other fuels.

In Indonesia, LNG is playing a strategic role in the energy transition. Its use significantly reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

LNG is being increasingly used not only in the industrial sector but also for household purposes. In the power generation sector, the government, through state-owned enterprises, is collaborating with Pertamina to develop Gas Engine Power Plants, particularly in Eastern Indonesia, where the project is currently in the trial phase.

With its wide range of potential, LNG is seen as a strategic bridge toward achieving the government’s energy transition targets. According to the National Grid, LNG produces up to 40% lower emissions compared to coal and 30% lower than oil.

By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, our efforts to mitigate global warming become significantly more achievable, don’t you agree?

The increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is driving climate change at an unprecedented rate.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that 2023 was the hottest year on record, with the global average temperature anomaly reaching 1.4°C above pre-industrial levels.

Global warming has now become a major threat in the climate crisis, with increasingly alarming and tangible impacts. These are clear signs of change, and we are already experiencing their effects today.

What Are the Warning Signs of Worsening Global Warming?

The impacts of global warming should not be underestimated. If left unchecked, it could severely damage human life, natural ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Here are five signs that clearly show how global warming is intensifying:

1. Rising Global Average Temperatures

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) AR6 2023 report, the global average surface temperature has increased by approximately 1.09 °C (with a range of 0.95–1.20 °C) compared to the pre-industrial period.

This condition is driven by the rising concentration of greenhouse gases, primarily caused by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial operations.

Read More: Why Cutting Carbon Emissions Is Critical for the Planet’s Future?

2. Extreme Weather Events

Higher global temperatures disrupt atmospheric and oceanic systems, leading to extreme weather patterns—rising sea surface temperatures, prolonged droughts, and earlier snowmelts.

These changes exacerbate disaster-prone areas, increase the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue, and strain public health systems.

Extreme weather events are no longer isolated phenomena—they’re a real and growing threat to environmental resilience, public health, and economic stability.

3. Melting Polar Ice

Warming caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases is accelerating the melting of polar ice, particularly in the Arctic.

Sea ice and glaciers are disappearing at a rate much faster than historical averages. As land ice melts, it releases freshwater into oceans, causing global sea levels to rise.

This threatens low-lying coastal regions and small islands while disrupting global climate systems.

Read More: The Main Causes of Climate Change and Its Devastating Impact on Earth

4. Shifting Seasonal and Climate Patterns

Greenhouse gases naturally help stabilize the Earth’s temperature. However, emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation have drastically increased their concentrations, causing rapid climate shifts.

Over the past 10,000 years, global temperatures rose by about 3°C to 8°C, but at a slow, natural pace. In contrast, nearly 1.2°C of warming has occurred in just one century, highlighting an alarming acceleration.

This warming disrupts seasonal and climate patterns, threatening agriculture, water supply, and increasing the risk of floods.

5. Ecosystem Disruptions and Species Extinction

Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and changing seasons threaten natural habitats—some are degraded, while others vanish completely.

Species extinction doesn’t just mean a loss of individual organisms—it weakens the entire ecosystem web.

Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem health, and the loss of even one species can cause cascading effects on many others.

Read More: Why Switching to Green Energy Matters and How It Impacts the Planet?

The Role of LNG in Tackling Global Warming

In the global push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down global warming, cleaner and more efficient energy sources are urgently needed.

This is where Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plays a strategic role as a transitional fuel toward a more sustainable energy future. Compared to coal, LNG emits about 50% less carbon dioxide (CO₂) when burned.

As the cleanest fossil fuel, LNG provides a practical solution for sectors like industry, transportation, and power generation to cut carbon footprints—even before renewable energy systems are fully in place.

Many countries have already incorporated LNG into their sustainable energy policies. It is often considered a “bridge fuel” due to its immediate applicability with existing technology.

Fossil energy sources, such as coal and petroleum, remain the primary means of meeting today’s energy needs. However, relying on these sources has serious consequences, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change.

The good news is, we have a more environmentally friendly alternative: biogas. This energy, produced from organic waste, not only generates lower emissions but also helps save energy and reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Curious why biogas offers so many advantages? Let’s dive into the explanation in this article.

What is Biogas?

Biogas is a renewable energy source derived from natural gas produced through the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms in anaerobic (oxygen-free) conditions.

This fermentation process produces gases such as methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), along with small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and water vapor.

Organic waste materials that can be used to produce biogas include:

• Animal manure
• Agricultural waste (such as straw, leaves, and food scraps)
• Organic household waste
• Sludge from wastewater treatment plants

To convert these materials into biogas, a technology called a digester is used. A digester is a sealed, airtight container that allows microorganisms to break down organic matter and produce methane gas.

Read More: Why Cutting Carbon Emissions Is Critical for the Planet’s Future?

Why Does Biogas Help Save Energy?

Biogas allows us to turn organic waste into a local, environmentally friendly energy source. It’s not only easy to source but also offers significant cost savings.

Here are several reasons why biogas is an effective solution to reduce energy consumption now and in the future:

Reducing Dependence on Fossil Fuels

One of the main reasons biogas saves energy is its ability to replace fossil fuels such as LPG and even coal. Using biogas for cooking, lighting, or power generation reduces the demand for fossil fuels.

In households, especially in rural areas where access to conventional fuels is limited or expensive, biogas can significantly reduce fuel costs.

Read More: LNG and Other Energy Alternatives: The Ideal Coal Replacements?

Energy Efficiency from Waste

Biogas enables energy production from organic waste that would otherwise be discarded. With a simple digester system, kitchen waste, livestock manure, and crop residues can be turned into usable energy.

This creates a self-sufficient local energy cycle. Waste that once caused environmental problems has now become a source of clean, low-cost energy.

The energy output can be scaled according to need, from household to small industry applications.

Lower Energy Costs

Although an initial investment is needed to build a biogas installation (such as a digester and gas distribution system), costs can be minimized by using local materials and simple technologies.

Once operational, the system requires minimal upkeep, as it only needs a steady supply of organic waste. In the long run, this translates to significant cost savings.

Read More: Is Transportation Truly the Biggest Energy Consumer? Let’s Break It Down

Biogas: An Environmentally Friendly Energy Solution

Biogas has many advantages that make it one of the most eco-friendly renewable energy options available. Compared to fossil fuels, both its production and usage are far cleaner and more sustainable.

Here’s why biogas is considered an environmentally friendly energy alternative:

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions: Biogas captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, a gas with a much higher global warming potential than CO₂.
• Productive use of organic waste: Food scraps, animal waste, and agricultural residues, which are major pollutants, can now be transformed into useful energy.
• Ideal for remote areas: Biogas can be produced locally, even on a small scale, making it ideal for communities with limited access to LPG or centralized energy infrastructure.

Proper management of organic waste can turn it into a reliable renewable energy source. To support the government’s energy transition efforts, PGN LNG Indonesia is developing technology to refine biogas into bioLNG (biomethane liquefied natural gas).

This process involves purifying the methane and removing other contaminants to produce high-quality gas that can then be liquefied into bioLNG.

As a liquid, bioLNG is easier to store and transport, especially to areas not yet connected to pipeline infrastructure.