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Merck Is Stepping Up Its Commitment To Sustainable Energy By Installing Solar Panels At Its Factory

Merck, a leading science and technology company, has just launched a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installation on the roof of its factory in Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta. This move is part of Merck's commitment to promoting the transition to renewable energy. Alongside the solar panel installation, Merck has also taken steps to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from PT PLN (Persero).

The inauguration also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Pasar Rebo site and 54 years of Merck's presence in Indonesia. This initiative aligns with Merck Group's sustainability goals, including a target to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Arryo Aritrixso Wachjuwidajat, Site Director of PT Merck Tbk, emphasized Merck Group's commitment, stating, "Merck has a responsibility to operate sustainably. We are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact, both by reducing carbon emissions and increasing our use of renewable energy. By 2030, we aim to cut direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions by 50% compared to our 2020 baseline and to use 80% renewable energy in our operations as part of our global efforts toward a more sustainable future."

This sustainability commitment is exemplified by the launch of the PV solar panels and the purchase of renewable energy. "In Indonesia, this solar panel installation marks a significant milestone in Merck's journey toward more environmentally friendly operations and demonstrates our long-term commitment to reducing our environmental footprint and supporting the transition to renewable energy," Arryo noted. "We believe this investment will not only benefit Merck but also the wider community, especially in reducing carbon footprints and supporting global efforts to combat climate change."

The installation of solar panels on the roof of the Merck factory was carried out by PT PLN Indonesia Geothermal's subsidiary, PT PLN Indonesia Power, which focuses on developing new and renewable energy sources both within and outside the PLN Group. The solar panels cover an area of 2,100 square meters and consist of a total of 817 solar modules.

These panels have a total installed capacity of 473.9 kWp and are expected to generate around 594.3 MWh of electricity annually. This energy will contribute about 12% to the factory's total annual energy needs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 465.3 tons of CO2, helping to lessen reliance on conventional energy sources.

“We are very proud to partner with Merck on this project,” said Lambok Renaldo Siregar, Project Director at PT PLN Indonesia Geothermal. “As a country rich in renewable energy potential, Indonesia has a great opportunity to lead in clean energy adoption. We hope that the collaboration between PLN Indonesia Geothermal and Merck will inspire other companies to take similar steps in supporting renewable energy use and reducing carbon footprints to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060, boosting the global competitiveness of our national industry.”

In addition to the physical installation of solar panels, Merck has proactively purchased green energy through Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) from PLN Persero, which has been used for factory operations since 2022.

With this initiative, Merck aims to increase its electricity portfolio from renewable energy to 40% by 2026. This reflects the company's significant contribution to supporting the clean energy agenda in Indonesia, aligning with one of Merck Group's sustainability targets to reduce its ecological footprint. By 2040, Merck aims to achieve climate neutrality and reduce its resource consumption.

Tag: Arryo Aritrixso Wachjuwidajat Merck Photovoltaic Renewable Energy Potential