Nuclear Power Plant to Support Indonesia’s Net Zero Emissions: A Case Study of Small Modular Reactor Technology Selection Using Technology Readiness Level and Levelized Cost of Electricity Comparing Method

Abstract

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.

Towards a Net Zero-Emission Electricity Generation System by Optimizing Renewable Energy Sources and Nuclear Power Plant

“…These charts have been illustrated from the power generation technical and economical catalogs in reports issued by NREL and IEA. The techno-economic of typical Small Modular Rector NPPs is taken from published journals [33,39,60]. As illustrated in Figure 6, the capex value for each type of technology varies throughout the planning period.…”

“…Energies 2024, 17, x FOR PEER REVIEW 9 of 23 [33,39,60]. As illustrated in Figure 6, the capex value for each type of technology varies throughout the planning period.…”

“…Sumatra Island is an Indonesian region with numerous renewable energy sources with high potential, which will be discussed in greater detail in the data and data sources section. In addition, a study of NPP implementation locations on Sumatra Island was conducted, which covered all NPP development standards [39]. Regarding electricity demand, the Sumatra power system accounts for 23% of Indonesia's total electricity demand in 2022 [40].…”

Risk identification of integral pressurized water reactor (IPWR) cooling system using a combination HAZOP, FMEA, and FTA methods

“…3 The Indonesian government targets a renewable energy share of 23% by 2025 1 and is committed to achieving Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060. 1 In achieving this target, the use of nonrenewable energy resources will be drastically reduced, replaced with renewable energy resources that are environmentally friendly and do not produce a greenhouse effect. Population growth continues to increase, resulting in energy demands that also continue to increase.…”

“…5 SMR saves construction time because modules of SMR can be manufactured and assembled before being shipped and installed on site. Because of their small size, low capacity, uncomplicated design, and modular characteristics, 1 SMRs are very suitable to be built in Indonesia, especially on islands other than Java, where electricity demands and the electricity grid capacity are not too large. Aside from that, SMR has much potential for construction given the geographical features of Indonesia, which include a large number of tiny, isolated islands.…”