Recent Advances in Renewable Energy Sources

Potentially of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Installation

as Power Plant in West Sumatera - Indonesia

FANNY OCTAVIANI, MUSWAR MUSLIM, AYOM BUWONO, DANNY FATURACHMAN

Marine Engineering Department
Darma Persada University
Jl. Radin Inten II, Pondok Kelapa, Jakarta 13450
INDONESIA
[email protected] http://www.unsada.ac.id

Abstract: - Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a field of science that is still less developed
in the area of renewable energy sources for electricity utilization. Yet the potential of the OTEC is
very large, especially in countries whose land is crossed by the equator. This study focuses on one part
of the region of Indonesia which has the potential OTEC that is large enough in the area of West
Sumatera. There are several points West Sumatera region that has the potential for the development of
electric power installation on the utilization of seawater temperature difference waterwheel region of
western Sumatera, especially the West Sumatera. From depth size coastline is very adequate for the
OTEC plant was built.

Key-Words: - Indonesia, OTEC, power plant, renewable energy, seawater temperature, West Sumatera

1. Introduction plant, shipbuilding and the construction of offshore

OTEC offers one of the most benign power platforms. What is unique to OTEC is the
production technologies, since the handling of movement of seawater streams with flow rates
hazardous substances is limited to the working fluid comparable to those of rivers and the effect of
(ammonia), and no noxious by-products are passing such streams through the OTEC
generated. OTEC requires drawing seawater from components before returning them to the ocean.
the mixed layer and the deep ocean and returning it Both ammonia and chlorine can damage the eyes,
to the mixed layer, close to the thermo cline, which skin, and mucous membranes, and can inhibit
could be accomplished with minimal environmental respiration. Ammonia is used as a fertilizer and in
impact. The carbon dioxide out-gassing from the ice skating rink refrigeration systems. Chlorine is
seawater used for the operation of an OC-OTEC used in municipal water treatment plants and in
plant is less than 1% of the approximately 700 steam power plants. Chlorine can be generated in
gram/kWh amount released by fuel oil plants. The situ; therefore storage of large quantities of chlorine
value is even lower in the case of a CC-OTEC plant. is not recommended.

To have effective heat transfer it is necessary to OTEC plant construction and operation may affect
protect the heat exchangers from bio fouling. It has commercial and recreational fishing. Fish will be
been determined that bio ouling only occurs in attracted to the plant, potentially increasing fishing
OTEC heat exchangers exposed to surface in the area. Enhanced productivity due to
seawater. Therefore, it is only necessary to protect redistribution of nutrients may improve
the CC-OTEC evaporators. Chlorine (Cl2) has been fishing. However, the losses of inshore fish eggs and
proposed along with several mechanical larvae, as well as juvenile fish, due to impingement
means. Depending upon the type of evaporator, both and entrainment and to the discharge of biocides
chemical and mechanical means could be used. may reduce fish populations. The net effect of
OTEC operation on aquatic life will depend on the
Other potentially significant concerns are related to balance achieved between these two effects.
the construction phase. These are similar to those Through adequate planning and coordination with
associated with the construction of any power the local community, recreational assets near an
OTEC site may be enhanced.

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 Recent Advances in Renewable Energy Sources

Other risks associated with the OTEC power system nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as
are the safety issues associated with steam electric number third in the world.
power generation plants: electrical hazards, rotating
machinery, use of compressed gases, heavy The development of OTEC resources is also
material-handling equipment, and shop and critically dependent upon the accessibility of the
maintenance hazards. Because the CC-OTEC deep cold seawater heat sink, i.e. on the steepness of
power plant operates as a low-temperature, low the coastal seafloor. Coincidentally, a rapidly
pressure Rankine cycle, it poses less hazard to dropping seafloor often corresponds to excellent
operating personnel and the local population than wave power resources as well. Sea depths around
conventional fossil-fuel plants. It is essential that all southern Sumatera, Java and eastern Indonesia
potentially significant concerns be examined and quickly exceed 1,000 m as one moves away from
assessed for each site and design to assure that shore. In some areas, a depth of 500 m is reached
OTEC is an environmentally benign and safe within only 2 km from the coastline. Global
alternative to conventional power generation. The Indonesian bathymetric features are shown in Figure
consensus among researchers is that the potentially 1.
detrimental effects of OTEC plants on the
environment can be avoided or mitigated by proper
design.

2. Problem Formulation
Indonesia is the tropical oceans country,
approximately defined by latitudes less than 20
degrees, may be thought of as enormous passive
solar collectors, and the amount of available OTEC Figure. 1. The steepness ( 1,000 m or more
energy has often been evaluated on the basis of how depth) of the coastal seafloor of Indonesia as
much solar radiation is absorbed by the upper layer OTEC resources
of the oceans. This method is flawed in many
respects: for example, a strictly renewable OTEC The absence of typhoons in Indonesia is a very
resource should be limited by the supply of deep positive point, since the OTEC resource often
cold seawater from the polar regions; it also leads to position in regions of active tropical storms. In other
extraordinarily optimistic (large) numbers, with countries, such as the Philippines, the frequent
convertible energy in one 1-degree-by-1-degree occurrence of violent typhoons represents a major
mesh element of a latitude-longitude grid amounting hurdle to the deployment of OTEC plants, whether
to the electricity production of a large developed on platforms (with delicate connections between
country (say 5 quads, or 5 x 1011 kWh, per year). platform and cold water pipe, or between platform
More sober estimates are typically three orders of and power cable) or on land, in the path of storm
magnitude smaller, but still represent a potential surges.
resource globally comparable to the Worlds current
electricity output. Indonesia is a country of active volcanism, however:
earthquakes and tsunamis consequently may
3. Problem Solution happen. Such events are very rare, though they are
A survey of suitable OTEC power plant locations potentially violent, as historical records show.
shows that temperature difference large enough for OTEC plants deployed on floating platforms would
OTEC, approximately correspond to latitudes less definitely be spared from earthquakes or tsunamis.
than 20 degrees. Land-based plants can be designed with state-of-the-
art guidelines, and should only suffer major damage
That arguments make it clear that Indonesia, a during the most catastrophic events, i.e. when it
country of 1.9 million km2 stretching from latitudes could be argued that virtually no structure on land or
608 N to 1115 S and longitudes 9445 E to near the shoreline would be safe from destruction,
14105 E, globally has excellent and potentially thus, it may be unreasonable to rule out OTEC
significant OTEC resources. Moreover, the great plants in those areas without ruling out any
number of islands included in the Indonesian industrial infrastructure at all.
archipelago define a sea area about four times larger
than the country itself, on the basis of a 200-

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 Recent Advances in Renewable Energy Sources

The temperature of surface seawater around level is the most influential on a citizen's daily life,
Indonesia water in all year mostly between 29 31 and handles matters of a village or neighborhood
C as shown in Figure 2, and candidate OTEC of through an elected lurah or kepala desa (village
temperature difference more than 20 C in Western chief).
of Sumatera found at depth between 500 800 The provinces of Aceh, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Papua,
meter. and West Papua have greater legislative privileges
and a higher degree of autonomy from the central
government than the other provinces. The Acehnese
government, for example, has the right to create an
independent legal system; in 2003, Yogyakarta was
granted the status of Special Region in recognition
of its pivotal role in supporting Indonesian
Republicans during the Indonesian Revolution.
Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, was granted
special autonomy status in 2001. Jakarta is the
Figure.2. Sea surface temperature country's special capital region.

ESTIMATION OF POTENTIAL OF OTEC IN Population

INDONESIA Over 200 years, the population of Indonesia has
Indonesia has coastlines totalling 95,181 km in steadily grown from 18.3 million in 1800 to 40.2
length making it the country with fourth longest million in 1900, to 205.8 million in 2000. Over the
coastline in the world, based on The United Nations past fifteenth years, the population went up from
(UN) announced in 2008. 205 million to 245 million.
Length of coastline of Indonesia : 95,181 km
Potential OTEC about 70% of coastline of POTENTIAL OF OTEC ON INDONESIAN
Indonesia: 0.7 x 95,181 = 66,627 km AREA
Distance between 100 MW OTEC plant : 30 km Selling by products of OTEC (DW) will become
Estimation OTEC potential in Indonesia : additional income for investors and production cost
[ 66,627 / 30 ] x 100 MW = 222,089 MW = of electricity become lower year by year. This is
222 GW of electricity could be understand by formula of levelized
Capacity factor (CF) of OTEC to produce electricity production cost of electricity:
a year is 0.8 that mean P = {(CC x f) DW} / (8760 x CF x RP)
OTEC has potential about: Where:
0.8 x 24 x 365 x 222 GW = 15,557,760 GWh or P : electricity price per kWh
15,557 TWh. CC : capital cost
f : fixed annual charge (on loan)
Indonesia Over View DW : Income from selling of DOWA
The Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast CF : capacity factor
Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 RP : rate power plant
islands, and with an estimated population today This study will be investigate OTEC resources on
(2015) of around 245 million people, it is the West Sumatera as candidate to develop pilot project
world's fourth most populous country, and has the 5 MW OTEC plant. Data for sites locations
largest Muslim population in the world. necessary to continuously looking for data in table
Indonesia consists of 33 provinces, five of which 1.
have special status. Each province has its own Table 1. General data West Sumatera
political legislature and governor. The provinces are No. Items Number
subdivided into regencies (kabupaten) and cities
(kota), which are further subdivided into sub 1. Population (people)
districts (kecamatan), and again into village - 2011 4,904,460
groupings (either desa or kelurahan). Following the - 2012 4,957,719
implementation of regional autonomy measures in - 2013 5,617,977
2001, the regencies and cities have become the key 2. Tourist Visit (foreign country)
administrative units, responsible for providing most - 2011 30,340
government services. The village administration - 2012 36,953

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- 2013 44,135 plant. Temperature data at western of Siberut Island

Electricity (ordinate 01 N and 97.5 E) shown until depth 1000
3. Production (Mwh) m.
- 2011 2,909,200 Candidate locations as shown in figure 3, and
- 2012 3,177,200 temperature of seawater as shown in table 2.
- 2013 3,344,600
Electricity
4. Supply (Mwh)
- 2011 2,403,090
- 2012 2,649,070
- 2013 2,788,680
5. Water Demand (M3)
- 2011 47,851,000
- 2012 54,306,000
- 2013 156,128,000
Source: BPS (Badan Pusat Statistik) Figure. 3. Three locations as candidate for OTEC
plants in West Sumatera
Location for OTEC in West Sumatera
West Sumatera position in the middle of the western
coast of Sumatera, and has an area of Table 2. Coastline Temperature on
42,297.30 km. Geographic features include plains, West Sumatera
mountainous volcanic highlands formed by the
Bukit Barisan mountain range that runs from north- Depth Mean Max Min Num Standart
west to south-east, and an offshore island (m) (0C) (0C) (0C) Sample Deviation
archipelago called the Mentawai Islands. The West 0 29.05 30.80 27.20 15 0.78
Sumatera coastline faces the Indian Ocean and 10 29.09 30.50 28.26 16 0.54
stretches 375 km from North Sumatera province in
the north-west to Bengkulu in the south-east. 20 28.97 30.20 28.20 17 0.50
West Sumatera is the best destination for tourism, 30 28.90 29.90 27.45 17 0.57
with natural attractions of the mainland include the 50 28.82 29.40 28.20 14 0.36
tropical forests, mountains, volcanoes, lakes, 75 27.54 29.20 22.66 17 2.03
valleys, rivers & waterfalls in the highlands, the
fauna and flora, and the beaches around Padang and 100 26.24 28.61 20.90 17 2.54
Mentawai Islands a popular destination for surfers 125 18.29 28.60 14.88 14 4.58
all over the world. 150 15.71 20.00 14.10 16 1.89
The Mentawai Islands are a chain of about seventy 200 13.71 14.90 12.10 14 0.62
islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatera
250 12.30 13.50 11.10 11 0.68
in Indonesia. Siberut (4,030 km) is the largest of
the islands. The other major islands are Sipura, 300 11.80 12.32 11.54 7 0.29
North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai 400 10.94 11.50 10.66 7 0.27
Selatan). The islands lie approximately 150 km off 500 10.05 10.50 9.31 7 0.38
the Sumatera coast, across the Mentawai Strait.
600 9.20 9.47 9.06 6 0.15
Based on bathymetry and user of electricity and by-
product of OTEC, elected 3 (three) areas in West 700 8.42 8.67 8.18 6 0.22
Sumatera as candidate to develop 5 MW OTEC 800 7.70 7.98 7.57 5 0.16
plant. 900 7.18 7.37 7.01 4 0.18
Temperature surface and deep seawater around 3
1000 6.74 7.18 6.42 4 0.36
locations on January only until depth 200 m.
January is the peak of rainy season in West Source: BPS (Badan Pusat Statistik)
Sumatera, temperature surface seawater about 29
oC. Even temperature on July not available now,
temperature of surface seawater on July higher than
temperature on January. For more depth of seawater
necessary to take new data before build OTEC

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approximately 20 C throughout the waters of

the sea.
2. Candidate of OTEC Plant for sites in
Indonesia is West Sumatera.: Pesisir Selatan,
Padang & Mentawai Island.

References
[1] Avery, W. H, Renewable Energy from the
Ocean a guide to OTEC, Oxford University
Press, pp. 280 (1994).
[2] Achiruddin, D., K.Saito. and G.C. Nihous,
Figure. 4. Three location temperature Feasibility Study of OTEC Plants in
Indonesia, Trans. Of the West Japan Soc of
At western of Siberut island on depth around 600 Naval Architects, No. 94, August 1997.
meter, temperature difference found 20 oC, as good [3] Achiruddin, D., Ikegami, Y, Possibility Study
resources for OTEC. Others data at 3 locations can To Develop OTEC & DOWA In Indonesia,
see in Table 3. 2010.
[4] BPS, Sumatera Barat (West Sumatera) Dalam
Table 3. Data of 3 candidate locations for OTEC Angka, 2014.
[5] Ikegami, Y., and H. Uehara, Performance
plant in West Sumatera
Analysis of OTEC Plants at Off design
Location Location
Location 1 Coditions: Ammonia as Working Fluid, Solar
2 3
Engineering, 1, pp. 633-638, 1992.
City/Regen Pesisir Padang Mentawai [6] Website Wikipedia, West Sumatera Province,
cy Selatan Islands 2014.
Ordinate 2.10 S 0.57 S 1.26 S
/100.51 E /100.21 E /99.8 E
Population 568.520 871.534 82.355
(2013) people people people
Electricity - Pancung Padang Siberut
& Water Soal city city Island
- Balai Tapan
city
- Baganti city
- Ranah
Pesiri
Sea surface temperature (0C)
- January 28.80 28.80 28.80
- July 29.01 29.01 29.01
Depth (m ) 600 to 700 600 to 600 to
700 700
Distance 12 km 18 km 10 km
from
coastline
History of
Typhoon None None None
Tsunami None None None
Earthquake Many Many Many
Source : BPS (Badan Pusat Statitik)

4 Conclusion
1. Indonesia is very potentially to build of OTEC
Plant, due to differences of sea surface
temperature and deep sea water in

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