Advancing Renewable Integration and Hydrogen Innovation through IERE Collaboration

My involvement with IERE has been closely connected to my research activities in renewable energy integration into power systems. As a researcher at PLN Puslitbang Ketenagalistrikan, Indonesia’s national electricity research and development center, I have participated in IERE workshops and technical forums. Presenting research at the IERE–CSIRO Brisbane Hydrogen Workshop was a meaningful experience, as it allowed me to share insights on green hydrogen fuel cell utilization in power systems while engaging in discussions with experts from utilities, research institutions, and industry representatives from various countries.

One of the most attractive aspects of IERE activities is the strong balance between research depth and practical relevance, particularly reflected in its well-structured technical sessions. The sessions on hydrogen supply, storage and distribution, cross-cutting areas, and hydrogen utilization offer comprehensive insights across the entire hydrogen value chain, from upstream production technologies to downstream applications in electricity generation, grid integration, and industrial processes. Rather than remaining at a conceptual level, these discussions directly address real operational challenges faced by utilities. This integrated structure enables participants to connect advanced research findings with real-world implementation strategies, making the collaboration highly valuable for countries accelerating energy transition while maintaining system security, affordability, and sustainability.

Another significant strength of IERE is its international network. The platform fosters meaningful interaction among engineers, researchers, managers, and decision-makers. Through these exchanges, members gain broader perspectives on how different countries develop hydrogen ecosystems, establish regulatory frameworks, implement pilot projects, and conduct techno-economic evaluations. Such interaction is essential for strengthening research quality and aligning innovation with practical needs. From my perspective, hydrogen is one of the most prospective alternatives in Indonesia’s energy transition. As a country with abundant renewable energy resources and an archipelagic power system structure, Indonesia faces both challenges and opportunities in integrating variable renewable energy (VRE) at scale. Hydrogen can serve as a long-duration energy storage solution, enhance grid flexibility, and support deeper renewable penetration, particularly in isolated and remote systems. In the longer term, hydrogen also offers potential to strengthen sector coupling between electricity, transportation, and industry.

I hope IERE will continue strengthening collaborative research and expanding knowledge-sharing initiatives among member institutions, which would further accelerate practical implementation. IERE serves not only as a platform for knowledge exchange but also as a catalyst for international collaboration in clean energy innovation. I look forward to contributing more actively to future initiatives and supporting collective efforts toward a resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable global energy system.

–––Profile of Handrea Bernando TAMBUNAN

Researcher of PLN Puslitbang Ketenagalistrikan (Research Institute), Jakarta, Indonesia, Member of IERE since 2015

Handrea is a researcher at PLN Puslitbang Ketenagalistrikan, the national electricity research and development center of Indonesia. His research primarily focuses on renewable energy integration into power systems, with particular interest in solar energy and hydrogen energy technologies. His work includes developing power generation solutions for isolated, islanded, and rural areas, aiming to enhance grid reliability, flexibility, and sustainability. He is actively involved in research related to renewable penetration, hydrogen in power systems, and innovative approaches to support Indonesia’s energy transition.