Jakarta – PLN Nusantara Power (PLN NP), through its subsidiary PLN NP Services, operates the Bandar Lampung Biomass Production Unit (UPBBL), which dries biomass much more efficiently than conventional methods, according to a company statement on Wednesday, October 22.
UPBBL is the first biomass plant in Indonesia equipped with high-capacity Rotary Dryer technology, which can reduce moisture content to 20 per cent compared to conventional methods. The result is high-quality woodchips with a gross calorific value (GCV) above 3,500 kCal/kg, ready for use as co-firing material at a number of coal-fired power plants in the Sumatra region, including the Tarahan Power Plant.
PLN Nusantara Power President Director, Ruly Firmansyah, said that the inauguration of this unit is a concrete step in strengthening the national clean energy ecosystem. “The presence of UPBBL not only strengthens the biomass supply for co-firing, but also proves regional energy independence by involving the community and local resources,” he said.
UPBBL has a production capacity of up to 70 tons of biomass per day or around 23,100 tons per year. This facility is expected to become the backbone of sustainable biomass supply for the Sumatra PLTU.
Around 90 per cent of the workforce comes from the local community, while the raw wood is sourced from surrounding areas such as Bergen, Tanjung Bintang, Way Kanan, Mesuji, and Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI).
In 2024, PLN NP recorded green electricity production reaching 69 GWh from the biomass co-firing program, equivalent to 1.57 per cent of the total power plant capacity. With the operation of UPBBL, this contribution is projected to increase significantly, including the potential for a reduction in carbon emissions of up to 12.7 million kilograms of CO₂ per year and savings of 3.36 per cent in coal consumption at the Tarahan PLTU. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Biomass production, Kudus, Central Java. August 27, 2024. (nsh/tanahair.net)
