Most power plants, particularly those that burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, create CO₂, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. By 2060, the Indonesian government has committed to reach net zero emissions. With the lowest CO₂ emissions, nuclear power plants are dependable sources of energy. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are a particular kind of nuclear power plant that has the potential to be Indonesia’s first commercial nuclear power plant because of their small size, low capacity, uncomplicated design, and modular characteristics. The purpose of this study is to examine the economics and technological feasibility of SMRs. In this analysis, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) comparative method and the technology readiness level (TRL) approach are both applied. The SMRs with a minimum TRL value of 7 were CAREM-25 (TRL7), KLT-40S (TRL8), and HTR-PM (TRL 8), according to the results of this research. Although CAREM-25 and KLT-40S are still in the demonstration stage and have not yet entered the market, their LCOE estimates are greater than 0.07 USD/kWh with a 5% discount rate. Whereas CAREM 100 MW is an economy scale from CAREM-25 and VBER 300 MW is a commercial size from KLT-40S, HTR-PM is already an economy scale. With discount rates between 5% and 10%, the LCOE values of HTR-PM, CAREM 100 MW, and VBER 300 MW range from 0.06 USD to 0.12 USD per kWh. Other than hydropower and coal-fired power plants, these LCOE figures can compete with the local LCOE in Indonesia and the LCOE of a variety of other types of power plants.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to an increase in Earth's temperature and subsequently drive climate change. CO₂ is primarily produced from fossil fuel-based power generation. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a CO₂ capture technology that can be added to fossil fuel power generation. This study evaluates the he technological, financial, and ecological impacts of upgrading CCS technology on a Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) power generation with three blocks. Amine-based post-combustion capture technology is applied in this study. Simulations were performed employing the Integrated Environment Control Model software. The addition of CCS significantly reduces net power output across all blocks. For Block 1, net power declines from 133 MW to 97.6 MW, a 27% reduction, while Block 2 drops by 17%, from 441.7 MW to 368.1 MW. Block 3 shows a 13% decrease, with net power falling from 441.9 MW to 385.5 MW. Thermal efficiency also declines with the installation of CCS. Corresponding efficiency losses are also notable: Block 1 falls from 40.85% to 30%, Block 2 from 45.24% to 37.69%, and Block 3 from 53.89% to 46.79%. The levelized cost of electricity increases considerably alongside CCS implementation, rising by 80% for Block 1 (0.0843 to 0.1522 USD/kWh), 47% for Block 2 (0.0761 to 0.1114 USD/kWh), and 42% for Block 3 (0.06618 to 0.0874 USD/kWh). Sensitivity analysis indicates that LCOE competitiveness with the national weighted average is achievable when carbon prices exceed 145 USD/t CO₂ for Block 1, 90 USD/t CO₂ for Block 2, and 45 USD/t CO₂ for Block 3. These findings emphasize the trade-offs between power generation efficiency, costs, and carbon capture, providing essential insights for future energy policy and CCS adoption strategies.

This research aims to analyze the techno-economic and environmental aspects of retrofitting carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology on the existing 330 MWe pulverized coal (PC) power plant. Modeling simulations on existing PC and retrofitting PC CCS with variations in biomass co-firing (wood pellet) were carried out using the Integrated Environment Control Model (IECM) version 11.5 software. An amine-based post-combustion capture was used in this study. Coal and biomass co-firing at PC CCS reduce the net power output and thermal efficiency. Carbon neutrality occurs at 10% biomass co-firing on PC CCS. There was a 164% increase in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), from 0.0487 USD/kWh on PC to 0.1287 USD/kWh on PC CCS. A sensitivity analysis of fuel prices shows that at a fuel price of 25 USD/t, the LCOE of PC CCS is 0.0953 USD/kWh or higher than Indonesia’s national weighted LCOE of 0.0705 USD/kWh. The LCOE of PC CCS can be lower than the national weighted LCOE when the carbon price is higher than 80 USD/t CO₂.

The study aimed to explore the effects of biomass co-firing of coal using acacia wood bark at circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler coal-fired power plant with 110 MWe capacity. The analysis focused on main equipment parameters, including the potential for slagging, fouling, corrosion, agglomeration, fuel cost, and specific environmental factors. Initially, coal and acacia wood bark fuel were blended at a 3% mass ratio, with calorific values of 8.59 MJ/kg and 16.59 MJ/kg, respectively. The corrosion due to chlorine and slagging potential when using wood bark was grouped into the minor and medium categories. The results showed that co-firing at approximately 3% mass ratio contributed to changes in the upper furnace temperature due to the variation in heating value, high total humidity, and a less homogeneous particle size distribution. Significant differences were also observed in the temperature of the lower furnace area, showing the presence of a foreign object covering the nozzle, which disturbed the ignition process. A comparison of the seal pot temperature showed imbalances as observed from the temperature indicators installed on both sides of boiler, with specific fuel consumption (SFC) increasing by approximately 0.17%. During the performance test, the price of acacia wood bark was 0.034 USD/kg, resulting in fuel cost of 0.023355 USD/kWh, adding 0.061 cent/kWh to coal firing cost. Despite co-firing, the byproducts of the combustion process, such as SO2 and NOx, still met environmental quality standards in accordance with government regulations. However, a comprehensive medium- and long-term impact evaluation study should be carried out to implement co-firing operations using acacia wood bark at coal-fired power plant. Based on the characteristics, such as low calorific value, with high ash, total moisture, and alkali, acacia wood bark showed an increased potential to cause slagging and fouling.

The FIT policy are widely adopted in the world to promote the utilization of renewable energy technology (RET). Tariff rates, tariff regression mechanisms, contract term, and quota constraints are all components of the FIT policy. This policy has also been adopted by Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN countries to optimize their renewable energy (RE) potential. This paper examines the utilization of RET in power generation under the FIT policy from the perspective of the growth of renewable energy, environment, and investment which applied in five major ASEAN countries in term of the biggest generation capacity, such as: Indonesia Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. This study shows that the FIT has been successful in accelerating renewable energy growth compared to pre-FIT, where annual RE capacity growth was 7.52% in Thailand (2007-2021), 16.38% in Vietnam (2011-2021), 4.56% in Indonesia (2012-2021) 2021), 9.11% in Malaysia (2012-2021), and 5.21% in the Philippines (2012-2021). FIT also managed to keep CO2/kWh emissions production stable in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand while increasing RE production in their power systems. Otherwise, due to the low utilization of RET in Indonesia and the Philippines, CO2 emissions in them has increased significantly, 6.67% per year at Indonesia, and 15.25% per year at the Philippines after the introduction of the FIT. Generally, FIT has succeeded in increasing the value of international funding investments in RE sector in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines

Coal contributed 303 million tons of CO₂ (49% of total emissions) in Indonesia in 2021. The Indonesian government plans to retire all coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) have low CO₂ emissions. This research aims to analyze the status of the nuclear program and examine the opportunities and challenges of NPPs in supporting net-zero emissions. The method used is a literature study of national positions and a simulation of the use of NPPs with the low emissions analysis platform (LEAP) up to 2060. The Business as Usual (BaU) scenario still relies on CFPPs. The retired CFPP scenario consists of NPP utilization of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%. It was found that the national position of Indonesia is in phase 1 (considering), because legally there is no policy on the use of NPPs in laws, the National Development Plan, or energy policies. A Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization (NEPIO) has not yet been established. The simulation results conclude that with limited renewable energy potential, NPPs have the opportunity to fulfill electricity production needs and reduce CO₂ emissions significantly. The challenge of using NPPs is the increasing production and investment costs of electricity that come along with the increase in the use of NPPs.