IRT’s Peter Wijaya reveals how its eco-friendly technology can make it a role model

Its USC technology applied in Jawa 9 and 10 steam power plants has gained national and regional appreciation.
 
President Director of PT Indo Raya Tenaga (IRT) Peter Wijaya shares what the company is expecting from the implementation of emission-reduction technology following its achievement in the Asian Power Awards 2021.
 
Recently, PT Indo Raya Tenaga has won two prestigious prizes; Coal Power Project (Silver) and Environmental Upgrade of The Year in Asian Power Awards 2021. The award is not the first as the company previously won the Indonesia Green Award (IGA) 2021 for pioneering eco-friendly coal-steamed power plants by implementing advanced eco-friendly technology.

“I would like to thank Asian Power Awards 2021 for nominating and awarding us as the Indonesian Environmental Upgrade of the Year as well as the Coal Project of the Year - Silver. And it is an honor for us and beneficial for us to receive such prestigious awards from Asian Power Awards 2021 as this will boost our morale during this mid-construction stage,” Peter said in an interview with Tim Charlton from Asian-Power.
 
PT Indo Raya Tenaga (IRT) is a SPC (Special Purpose Company) for the Jawa 9 and 10 Ultra Super Critical Coal Fired Power Plant generation project (2 x 1,000 MW) resulting from the consortium of PT Indonesia Power (a subsidiary of Indonesia’s state power giant PT PLN), PT Barito Pacific, and South Korea’s power firm KEPCO.
 
Eco-friendly technology that matters
 
Despite South Korea’s plan to halt funding for coal-powered plants and mounting protests from green activists, the East Asian country is still committed to funding the Jawa 9 and 10 project.

The Jawa 9 and 10 project are power plants with 2 x 1,000 MW capacity and uses an OECD-standard Ultra Super Critical (USC) technology aimed at reducing emissions. 

A wide range of equipment aimed at controlling pollution has been installed in the USC steam power plants, so that the emissions produced can not only meet but also be better than the required Emission Quality Standards.

Based on data from New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the use of USC technology in steam power plants can produce efficiency up to 40% and the CO2 emission intensity reaching around 820 g per kWh. 

Coal consumption can also be lowered at around 320-340g per kWh.
 
According to regulations, the standard quality standards for SOx, particulate, and NOx for a steam power plant in the operation phase are 550 mg/Nm3, 100 mg/Nm3, 550 mg/Nm3, respectively.

However, with technology in the Jawa 9 and 10 power plant project, the figures are cut to below 350 mg/Nm3, 30 mg/Nm3, and 128mg/Nm3, respectively for SOx, Particulates, and NOx, and even far below that depending on the coal specification.

Aside from the USC technology deployed, the Jawa 9 and 10 power plant project is implementing a complete range of flue gas emission-reduction technologies i.e.,  Low NOx Burner, Electro Static Precipitator (ESP), Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD), and the first ever implemented Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) in Indonesia.

SCR or selective catalytic reduction is a well-proven technology for nitrogen oxide reduction. It uses anhydrous ammonia as a reducing agent through the SAR reactor to convert nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen and water,” Peter explained.

He further elaborated that the boiler and turbine used in the USC technology and how both can help boost efficiency.
 
“So, we are installing one of the best USC boilers in the world from Busan, Korea, as well as the most efficient steam turbine generator in the world from Siemens, Germany. The USC boiler from Korea will generate steam at 25 Mega Pascal at more than 600 oC and then reheat it to more than 610 oC, which is creating all the efficiency there. And the SST 600 steam turbine generator from Siemens is proven and internationally recognized as one of the highest efficiency turbine with a short startup time and very high reliability and availability,” he said.
 
He added that the application of that technology will help to cut greenhouse emission by more than 20%.
 
A role model

Coal is often accused of causing air pollution and being the biggest emitter. Therefore, the company understands this and believes the use of coal-saving technology will improve the protection of the livelihood of the surrounding community.
 
During the IGA 2021 award ceremony last April, Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry praised the construction of Jawa 9 and 10 project with the use of USC technology, claiming that PT IRT can be a role model for raising awareness on maintaining sustainability.
 
PT IRT is also committed to involve local workers in the construction of Jawa 9 and 10 power plants, ensuring that the company provides equal opportunity employment and avoid child labor and discrimination, as well as fulfill workers’ rights as stipulated by the Ministry of Manpower’s regulation.
 
“The holistic environmental solution that we employ going forward is a mix of utilizing the best available technology for emission reduction and a term that we refer to as green culture. Green culture is a long term and sustainable program that includes among others, planting new and rehabilitation of and the protection of Greenbelt, forest area and coastal area and also waste management, utilization of electric vehicles and of course, others,” Peter stated.
 
The award proves that Indonesia is one of the attractive destinations for bankable mega infrastructure investments, which we are proud of as Indonesians, as well as recognition for the company’s solution to solve the environmental issues.