Control system order for geothermal power plant in Indonesia

Yokogawa has received an order from PT. PLN, a government-owned utility in Indonesia, to supply the control system for a project that will renovate the first of four 20 MW power generation units at the Lahendong geothermal power plant, which is located in the Lahendong district on Sulawesi Island.

As part of this renovation project, the system used to monitor and control the steam turbine auxiliary facilities in unit No. 1 will be replaced with the CENTUM® VP integrated production control system. Yokogawa Indonesia will be responsible for engineering, installing, and commissioning the new system. This project is scheduled to be completed by February 2014, whereupon unit No. 1 will be returned to service.

Geothermal energy can generate a stable supply of electricity day and night and in all weather conditions. Since no carbon dioxide is emitted, it is regarded as an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. However, the systems and instruments used in geothermal power plants must be robust and capable of operating in the presence of corrosive substances and gases. For such applications, Yokogawa provides highly reliable systems that support the remote monitoring, diagnosis, and adjustment of devices in the field as well as a range of products that are suitable for use in corrosive gas environments.

CENTUM VP systems have already been operating for some time in units No. 3 and No. 4. The solid performance of these systems, combined with Yokogawa’s superior technical expertise in geothermal power generation, the quality of its products, and its extensive engineering and service network in Indonesia, were primary considerations in PT. PLN’s decision to go with the CENTUM VP solution in unit No.1.

To further grow its industrial automation and control business and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, Yokogawa is targeting renewable energy fields such as geothermal power. As such, the company will be seeking to expand the provision of its solutions in Indonesia and other geothermal resource-rich countries.