Evaluating the Challenges of Biomass Co-Firing for Energy Transition: A Review
Keywords:
Biomass, Co-Firing, Combustion, LCOE, Supply ChainAbstract
This study explores biomass co-firing in Indonesia’s coal-fired power plants as a strategic pathway to boost the country’s renewable energy transition. It highlights the benefits and challenges of co-firing across three key areas: biomass supply chain mechanisms, economic feasibility, and technical obstacles. Ensuring a steady biomass supply is essential to avoid operational outages, with particular attention to challenges like slagging, fouling, and corrosion. The study reviews optimization models to determine ideal facility locations, effective co-firing rates, and strategies for emissions reduction. Economic viability is assessed using the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), which underscores the impact of biomass costs on project feasibility. The study further suggests that using additives could enhance combustion efficiency, while managing a diverse range of biomass sources, particularly in resource-rich regions, is crucial for consistent supply and the long-term sustainability of co-firing initiatives. Despite these challenges, biomass co-firing emerges as a promising option for supporting Indonesia’s shift to renewable energy, with significant potential to contribute to the country’s net-zero emissions target by 2060. Addressing economic, technical, and logistical factors is essential for optimizing co-firing and achieving successful, large-scale implementation.
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