FEASIBILITY STUDY ANALYSIS OF BIOMASS-BASED CO-FIRING ENERGY AT PANGKALAN SUSU POWER PLANT
Keywords:
Aspen Plus, Biomass, Cofiring, Combustion, Emission, Net Present Value, Rice husk, sustainabilityAbstract
This study examines the implementation of biomass co-firing with a mixing ratio ranging from 3% to 45% as an alternative to reduce dependency on coal. The research evaluates feasibility from technical, environmental, and economic perspectives. Technically, the heat produced from co-firing is comparable to that generated from pure coal combustion. The analysis was conducted using daily operational data, including coal consumption, electric load, furnace temperature, and Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) measurements. The results show that adding rice husk up to 45% does not compromise the operational stability of the power plant. Coal consumption decreased as the percentage of rice husk increased, without sacrificing electrical output, which remained stable between 126–139 MW. Furnace temperature also remained stable, with the 45% blend exhibiting higher stability compared to other blends. Although SFC slightly increased with rice husk blends, overall system efficiency remained well-maintained. This is attributed to the rice husk’s easy combustibility and cleaner emissions, despite its lower calorific value compared to coal. Environmentally, the application of co-firing resulted in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that remained below the established limits. Economically, at a 5% co-firing scenario, annual savings amounted to IDR 6,251,729,419, and reached a peak of IDR 27,702,681,170 per year at 45% co-firing, indicating financial feasibility. The co-firing process was modeled using ASPEN PLUS software and validated with experimental data, showing highly consistent results. A higher biomass-to-air ratio led to lower temperatures but improved efficiency. Higher combustion temperatures contributed to increased levels of NO, CO₂, and SO₂. The study recommends further research on coal-fired power plants with capacities over 2 × 200 MW, utilizing biomass blends exceeding 50% and alternative types of biomass beyond rice husks, to optimize and expand the application of biomass co-firing technology.
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