Performance Analysis of Woodchip Cofiring in a 100 MW CFB Boiler at Tarahan Power Plant Unit 3
Keywords:
Biomass Cofiring, Woodchip, Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boiler, Emission Reduction, Power Plant EfficiencyAbstract
The transition to renewable energy in Indonesia is being accelerated through biomass cofiring in coal-fired power plants (CFPP), advertising a low-investment strategy to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. This study presents the performance analysis of cofiring between coal and woodchip at PLTU Tarahan Unit 3, which utilizes a Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) boiler. The experiment was conducted using three cofiring scenario of 10%, 15%, and 20% woodchip beneath a steady 95 MW load condition. Comprehensive evaluations were carried out including fuel characterization, boiler performance, emission measurements, and economic analysis. The results showed that cofiring up to 20% woodchip was technically feasible without major modifications to the boiler system. Emissions of SO₂ and NOₓ decreased in proportion to the biomass share, and operational stability was maintained. Although the specific fuel consumption (SFC) slightly increased, the production cost remained competitive due to the low cost of biomass. The study concludes that woodchip cofiring is a viable and sustainable alternative for supporting Indonesia’s net zero emission goals while optimizing the use of existing infrastructure.
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