Techno-Economic Assessment of Fuel Cell as Backup Power for Power Plant Black Start: An Alternative to Diesel Generator

Abstract

Blackout is a condition that is highly undesirable for employees and consumers of PT. PLN (Persero) as an electricity producer because it has both economic and psychological impacts on affected electricity users. Blackout itself can occur both internally and externally (grid). Therefore, a reliable backup power system is needed to support the restoration of electricity blackouts so that it can be used again by consumers. Diesel generators are generally used as backup power in several power plants during black start. Several obstacles often occur when only relying on diesel generators as backup power during the black start process, thus disrupting the electricity recovery process as a system. Fuel cell are presented as an alternative to replace diesel generators as backup power. The use of hydrogen fuel cells supports the energy transition towards a low-carbon economy and reduces global carbon emissions. This study models the Black Start Diesel Generator (BSDG) and hydrogen fuel cell using a process simulator to see the feasibility of fuel cells in replacing the role of BSDG. The study results show that the fuel cell is able to replace the BSDG function as backup power for black start needs in power plants. The right type of fuel cell to replace BSDG is Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The amount of hydrogen needed in the feed model using pure oxygen is less than when using air feed. The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of the PEMFC system with hydrogen and oxygen combination is $54.01/kWh. Meanwhile for the PEMFC system with hydrogen and air combination the LCOE value is $54.11/kWh. Green hydrogen used in PEMFC is considered carbon emission free while BSDG produces 2428.9 kg/h CO2 eq to produce 1700 kW of power.