ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF DISTRICT HEATING SYSTEM BASED ON NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COGENERATION IN INDONESIA

• Main Author: Aji Setiawan, Muksin
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86918
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The benefits of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) go beyond electricity production, as the cogeneration of nuclear energy allows the heat produced to be used for other activities. Indonesia, as a developing country with increasing energy consumption, faces the challenge of finding solutions to meet its growing energy needs. Using nuclear energy as part of the national energy mix requires in-depth studies on the utilization of NPP cogeneration. One interesting cogeneration option is the concept of district heating, which allows the use of heat energy to meet thermal energy needs in a region, thereby improving energy efficiency. Although district heating technology has been applied in countries with cold climates, its application in Indonesia, a tropical country, presents different challenges. The demand for heat that is typically high in winter does not apply in Indonesia, so the district cooling approach may be more relevant to meet cooling needs. This study aims to explore the economic benefits of applying both district heating and district cooling in Indonesia. Various scenarios were analyzed, both using the electricity grid and relying solely on the heat produced by NPPs. The study also compares the application of district heating and district cooling. Simulations were conducted using software designed to model energy systems in a region. Adjustments were made to ensure that the simulations accurately reflected the use of heat generated by NPPs. The selection of components in the system is crucial because it affects the energy needed for these components to operate efficiently. The simulation results showed that the greater the energy demand in the system, the higher the revenue generated. Furthermore, the levelized cost of heat (LCOH) was higher in systems that linked district heating with electricity demand, while the lowest LCOH was found in scenarios without electricity demand. On the other hand, the levelized cost of energy (LCOEn) was lower in systems that integrated both district heating and district cooling compared to systems that only applied district cooling. The scenario that combined both district heating and district cooling produced the lowest LCOEn, indicating better energy efficiency. Several scenarios were tested to provide an overview of the relationship between LCOH and LCOEn, with both parameters reflecting the economic feasibility of the designed energy system. A 20-year operational projection showed that the highest net present value (NPV) was found in simulation scenario 1, while the lowest NPV was in scenario 10. The revenue values for both scenarios were directly proportional to the NPV, which is also related to the system’s amortization period. This study provides insights into the economic potential and sustainability of applying district heating and district cooling technologies based on NPPs in Indonesia.