PLN Will Trial Biomass Co-Firing At 17 PLTUs In 2021

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (Persero) or PLN continues to pursue the target of biomass co-firing trials at 52 coal-fired power plants (PLTU) in 2024. The plan is that this year PLN will conduct trials in 17 PLTUs.

The Director of the PLN Mega Project, Ikhsan Assad, reported that the operation of using biomass has no impact on the PLTU it manages. In fact, from the results of the trials conducted, it was seen that there was a better emission reduction.

"In 2021, we plan to conduct trials at 17 locations and carry out implementation at 17 PLTU locations," he said, at the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PLN and Perhutani and PTPN III, Friday, January 22.

Ikhsan said, PLN took various steps to ensure the readiness of the upstream to downstream sectors in implementing the co-firing program. Among other things, ensuring the readiness of the biomass processing industry and also supporting government regulations in the implementation of the co-firing program and other matters needed to maintain continuity of supply.

Furthermore, Ikhsan said, until early January 2021, biomass co-firing trials had been carried out at 32 PLTUs owned by PLN.

"Alhamdulillah, as of January 5 (2021) it has added to 32 (PLTU) that have been tested," he said.

Until the end of 2020, said Ikhsan, PLN had conducted coal co-firing trials in 29 PLTUs, which are located in the Kalimantan to Java regions.

"Of the 29 that have been tested. There are 6 locations that have been implemented or commercial operations. Such as in Paiton, Pacitan, PLTU Jeranjang, Suralaya, Ketapang, and PLTU Sanggau in West Kalimantan," he said.

For your information, this biomass co-firing program is PLN's step to support the achievement of the 23 percent New Renewable Energy (EBT) mix target by 2025. By conducting co-firing in 52 PLTU locations, the company hopes to help increase the EBT mix by around 2 percent.

In total, said Ikhsan, there are 114 PLTU units owned by PLN that have the potential for biomass co-firing. The power plants are spread across 52 locations with a total capacity of 18,154 megawatts (MW).