PT Pertamina's net-zero energy skyscraper in Jakarta a world first

PT Pertamina (Persero) has just begun work on the Pertamina Energy Tower building project. It will represent Pertamina’s transformation to a world class energy company and also become one of the new landmarks of the city, the company said.

This building will have a height of 530 metres, 99 floors, and a total space of 540,000 square metres. Pertamina Energy Tower will also be equipped with supporting functions such as a mosque with a capacity of 5.000 people, convention hall, energy centre, and sports facility.

Pertamina Energy Tower will be an integrated campus with a concept and the support of eco-friendly building technology. This campus will be one of the first “green buildings” in Indonesia, aiming for a  certificate from the Green Building Certificate Institute on a platinum level. It will be equipped with zero water run-off and water recycling, renewable energy showcase, and a 55 per cent area of green land.

Sustainable Business News  said that the Pertamina Energy Tower is shaped like a funnel. The tower’s open top will capture wind and suck it inside to run a series of vertical wind turbines that provide 25 per cent of the building's electricity.

Its curved facade is precisely calibrated for Jakarta's proximity to the equator, which mitigates solar heat gain throughout the year. On two sides of the building are sun-shading "leaves" – semi-mobile curtains that allow daylight to enter while shielding the building from glare and heat from the sun. Radiant cooling systems replace air conditioners.

Other buildings on the campus will be covered by solar panels, but the central energy plant that powers the complex will run on geothermal – a prime, renewable energy source in Indonesia.

A covered walkway called the "Energy Ribbon" winds through the campus, providing protection from the elements and generating energy from solar panels on top. It connects the buildings while leading people across land bridges and gardens.

The building is designed to be a symbol of Indonesia's commitment to sustainable development. The architectural firm behind it is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, known for combining innovation with energy efficiency and sustainability. Its Greenland Group Suzhou Centre in China, for example, has a 30-storey tall operable window and uses 60 per cent less energy than typical skyscrapers.

Pertamina Energy Tower involves Skidmore Owings Merrill (main consultant) and Turner International (project management consultant), who are both involved in the construction of the tallest building in the world, Burj al Khalifa, Dubai-UEA, with Rider Levett Bucknall as the quantity surveyor consultant. As for the domestic involvement, this project involves PT Airmas Asri as the architect consultant and PT Wiratman & Associates as structure consultant, KSO PT Pembangunan Perumahan and PT Hutama Karya as the implementer of the Central Energy Plant project.