Technical Feasibility Analysis of Sawdust as Co-firing Fuel at Labuhan Angin Steam Power Plant

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the technical feasibility of using sawdust as co-firing fuel in the Labuhan Angin Steam Power Plant (PLTU). The main focus is on the physical and chemical characteristics of sawdust and its impact on the performance of the power plant. This study is non-experimental and uses secondary data obtained from the operational trial report of sawdust co-firing documented in the company's internal technical report. The analysis was carried out through daily operational data, including coal consumption, electrical load, furnace temperature, and Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) measurements. The results show that the addition of sawdust up to 5% does not reduce the stability of the power plant operation. Coal consumption decreased as the percentage of sawdust increased, without sacrificing electrical power output, which remained stable in the range of 65–68 MW. The furnace temperature also remained stable, even at a mixture of 5% showing higher stability than other mixtures. Although SFC increased slightly in the sawdust mixture, the system efficiency was maintained well. This is due to the characteristics of sawdust which is flammable and produces cleaner emissions, although its calorific value is lower than coal. This study concludes that sawdust has the technical feasibility to be used as a co-firing material up to 5% without disrupting the performance of the generator. However, adjustments are needed to the feeding system and combustion control for optimization. These results strengthen the potential of sawdust as an alternative environmentally friendly energy in the energy transition towards more sustainable generation.