World Energy Day, KAI Cuts Energy Consumption by 15.39 Percent Through Solar Power and Digitalization
Energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of efforts to achieve more sustainable railway operations. From using solar panels to support electricity needs to digitalizing services to reduce paper consumption, various initiatives are being implemented to optimize resource use. Simple customer habits, such as refilling reusable water bottles, also complement these efforts.
To commemorate World Energy Day on October 22, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (Persero) (KAI) continues to improve its energy and resource management through renewable energy, greater operational efficiency, and facilities that encourage more environmentally friendly habits.
According to KAI’s 2025 Sustainability Report, the company’s energy consumption decreased from 11,945,467 gigajoules (GJ) in 2024 to 10,107,302 GJ in 2025. The reduction of 1,838,165 GJ represented a 15.39 percent decrease. During the same period, energy intensity per passenger also fell by approximately 22.05%, from 0.0263 GJ to 0.0205 GJ per passenger.
KAI Vice President of Corporate Communication Anne Purba said energy management needs to progress alongside service development. Consumption monitoring, technology adoption, and alternative energy sources are part of the company’s efforts to use resources more efficiently and responsibly.
One of these initiatives is the operation of 113 solar power plant units across 92 locations, with a total installed capacity of 4,430.65 kilowatt-peak (kWp), equivalent to approximately 4.43 megawatt-peak (MWp). These facilities are located at stations, railway workshops, offices, operational facilities, depots, and record centers to support electricity needs across KAI’s operations.
Service digitalization also helps reduce paper consumption. During the first half of 2026, a total of 5,555,034 long-distance train passengers used the Face Recognition Boarding Gate facility. This technology is estimated to have reduced the need for 13,888 rolls of boarding-pass paper, generating cost savings of approximately Rp203.80 million. However, paper reduction is a direct benefit of digitalization, while its energy-saving impact needs to be calculated separately.
Efforts to reduce plastic waste are also supported by 124 Water Station units across 58 stations, covering 70 service areas as of June 2026. These free drinking-water refill facilities allow passengers to refill reusable tumblers or bottles during their journeys. Based on a conservative estimate, if 10% of long-distance and local train passengers during the first half of 2026 refilled their bottles once, the potential reduction in single-use plastic bottles would reach approximately 2.99 million bottles. This figure represents an estimated potential, not actual usage.
Anne explained that each sustainability initiative needs to be evaluated using indicators appropriate to its benefits. Reduced energy consumption, solar power capacity, lower paper usage, and the potential reduction of plastic waste are distinct indicators that together provide a broader picture of the company’s resource management efforts.
Through these initiatives, KAI continues to promote measurable efficiency while encouraging passengers to adopt more environmentally friendly habits. The use of technology and renewable energy in operations is expected to go hand in hand with simple changes in daily activities, including using digital services and carrying reusable water bottles.