Power Plants: Definition, Types, and Examples in Indonesia

When it comes to power plants, you might be familiar with some types of power plants, like a solar power plant.

Power plants have become one of the environmentally friendly alternative energy sources, though some of them still use fossil fuels. This article discusses power plants, so learn the complete information below!

What Are Power Plants?

Power plants are tools or facilities that produce electricity by turning energy, like wind energy, into electricity.

Most of the power plants turn mechanical energy into electricity, except solar power plants that use photovoltaic cells to create electricity.

The types of power plant determine the main energy sources. A conventional power plant typically uses nonrenewable energy, such as natural gas and coal.

Then, there is also a power plant using renewable energy, such as a hydro power plant and a solar power plant.

In general, a power plant consists of a turbine and a generator as the main system. A turbine works by capturing energy and turning it into mechanical energy.

After that, the generator alters the mechanical energy into electricity. The type of power plant is determined by the turbine that turns the generator. For example, if a power plant has a steam turbine, it will be called a steam power plant.

Types of Power Plants

Power plants are divided into those that use thermal energy and those that use renewable energy. The completed explanation is as follows:

1. Thermal Power Plants

Most thermal power plants use fuel to boil water, which later produces pressurized steam. The steam will stream through pipes and move the turbine.

The generator's huge coil of wire rotates and generates power when the turbine does. Here are some examples of thermal power plants that you can look at:

A. Fossil Fuel Power Plants

Fossil fuel power plants produce heat to generate the external heat machine. This power plant does not utilize hot steam, but uses heat from the fuel of natural gas.

Yet, a combined cycle power plant (CCPP) still uses heat and hot steam. Examples of fossil fuel power plants are steam power plants and natural gas power plants.

B. Solar Heat Power Plants

Distinct from solar power plants, it uses solar heat to boil the water and produce hot steam. The steam will move the generator and produce electricity.

C. Nuclear Power Plants

The primary energy source for this power plant is uranium. Hot steam is produced when uranium generates heat energy. The turbine will be powered by steam to generate energy.

2. Renewable Energy Power Plants

This power plant uses renewable energy, such as the sun, wind, and water. Here is the explanation:

A. Hydro Power Plant

This power plant uses river or dam water to move the generator, which later produces electricity. Energy from water is considered more reliable compared to other renewable energies, especially when flowing water from the dam.

B. Wind Power Plant

A wind power plant uses a wind turbine to get the mechanical energy from the wind. The wind will slowly rotate the turbine and move kinetic energy, which later rotates the generator and produces electricity.

C. Solar Power Plant

Solar power plants usually use solar panels containing photovoltaic cells. It works when photons from the sun reach the atom in the panel's semiconductors. As a result, electrons can flow.

In addition to the power plants above, other types of power plants can be found in Indonesia and around the world are as follows:

Geothermal Power Plant: It uses geothermal heat to generate electricity.
Diesel Power Plant: It uses diesel fuel to drive diesel engines, which then generate electricity.
Wave Power Plant: It uses ocean waves and often generates quite a lot of electricity.
Tidal Power Plant: It uses the tide and flow of ocean water to drive turbines and generate electricity.

Example of a Power Plant Implementation in Indonesia

In Indonesia, there are many companies developing power plants, one of which is Krakatau Chandra Energi (KCE). As the subsidiary of Chandra Asri Group, KCE develops various energy infrastructures, such as new renewable energy, electricity providers, and electricity services.

Regarding electricity providers, KCE uses CCPP with a total capacity of 120 MW. The CCPP, owned by KCE, has two gas turbine generators, two heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), and one steam turbine generator. The CCPP uses natural gas and ensures that the electricity follows the industry standard.

Aside from CCPP for electricity providers, KCE also develops solar power plants for new renewable energy, in which KCE serves three solar panel installations: On-grid, off-grid, and hybrid solar panels.

That is the information about power plants that you can learn. Power plants can supply electricity for various purposes, such as households and industries.

If you need a trusted solar panel service and standard electricity provider, trust Chandra Asri Group!