ITS: Nuclear and Renewable Energy Need Balancing Power Plants

Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) – Integrating nuclear power plants (PLTN) with new and renewable energy (EBT) requires balancing power plants to maintain the stability of the national electricity supply, as the different sources have distinct operating patterns.

“Nuclear power plants are designed as baseload generators, supplying electricity steadily over the long term, while renewable sources such as solar and wind depend on natural conditions,” said Rony Seto Wibowo, a professor of power system operations at the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), in Surabaya on Friday.

Rony explained that nuclear plants can generate electricity consistently, with relatively limited changes in output, and can operate for up to around two years without a shutdown, depending on the reactor’s operating and maintenance cycle.

Solar power plants (PLTS) and wind power plants (PLTB), meanwhile, are classified as variable renewable energy (VRE), as their output changes with the intensity of sunlight and wind speed.

According to Rony, gas-fired power plants (PLTG) and hydropower plants (PLTA) can serve as balancing, or load-following, generators because they can increase or reduce output relatively quickly.

He said gas-fired plants were important for linking baseload nuclear generation with solar and wind power.

“That is because gas-fired plants can ramp up and down quickly, or be switched on and off quickly. So nuclear can remain steady, while gas or hydropower handles the fluctuations. Electricity supply and demand have to match every second,” he said.

He said coordinating the mix of power plants was crucial because supply must remain balanced with electricity demand at all times to keep the power system reliable and meet the needs of households and industry.

However, using gas-fired plants for balancing also requires consideration of the availability of Indonesia’s natural gas reserves, so that energy needs during the transition can be met sustainably.

Rony said Indonesia’s proven gas reserves currently account for about 0.5 per cent of the world’s total, while its population represents around 3.5 per cent of the global population.

He cited the importance of energy security, pointing to Singapore’s move to consider developing nuclear energy after Indonesia reduced gas export supplies to the country.

“When Indonesia reduced its gas supply, Singapore immediately—its prime minister, in fact—said it would build nuclear power. That shows the importance of energy security,” he said.

He therefore stressed the need to manage gas reserves carefully so they can support balancing generation during the transition to a low-emissions energy system.