Is Renewable Energy Reliable?

Which is more Complicated: Maintaining a Solar Power Plant or a Coal-fired Power Plant?

There’s a Perception:
“Developed countries should bear more responsibility for reducing global emissions. After all, they’ve been polluting the earth since the industrial revolution.”

However:
The world is currently striving to reduce its emissions, and Indonesia, ranked among the top 10 emitting countries, has a responsibility to significantly reduce its emissions.

Explanation:
Currently, the public has been served by PLN (State Electricity Company). They are unaware of the maintenance process for coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) because they are handled directly by PLN. However, if you want to use a solar power plant (PLTS) privately or communally, you need to perform maintenance yourself.

From a maintenance perspective, coal-fired power plants (PLTUs) are much more complex than solar power plants (PLTS).

Coal-fired power plant maintenance includes:

  1. Maintenance of boilers, turbines, cooling systems, water treatment, and ash handling
  2. Regular inspection and replacement of damaged components
  3. Routine maintenance of emission control systems, such as scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators (Muhammad Nandi Rofandi and Irwanto, 2022)

Furthermore, coal-fired power plants are responsible for increased GHG emissions, which increase the intensity of climate disasters.

Meanwhile, solar power plant maintenance only includes:

  1. Cleaning the panels is done routinely. The cleaning tool is simply liquid soap, similar to cleaning a motorcycle or car (Sun Energy, 2021). Then, wipe them dry.
  2. Solar power plant maintenance can be performed by robots, both manual and automated. The market for solar panel cleaning robots is expected to grow sharply over the next 10 years, and automated robots will become the primary choice for solar panel cleaning globally. This aligns with the growth of the solar energy industry and the need for operational efficiency in the field.
  3. There are no moving parts, so the risk of damage is low. However, it is still important to ensure that water does not enter the installation system.

The use of solar power plants does not involve any combustion, so it does not produce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and is good for the environment.

IESR Words

  • “With the increasing safety standards for solar power plants (both solar modules and inverters), installation and maintenance are becoming easier, just like with other electronic equipment. Many companies offer solar power plant installation services. Furthermore, maintaining a solar power plant only requires periodic cleaning and checking the condition of the wiring in the medium term. Regarding price, the largest component of a solar power plant is the solar module, and its price has dropped by 66% in the last five years, and is expected to continue to drop in the next few years.”
    – Alvin Putra Sisdwinugraha,     Power Systems and Renewable Energy Analyst, IESR

Description for

Children (14-18 years):

Maintaining a solar power plant is similar to caring for our cell phones or tablets. We simply need to clean the screen and keep it out of water. Similarly, solar power plants don’t require as much maintenance as other large devices. What we need to ensure is regular inspections of the solar power plant. We simply need to clean the solar panels with liquid soap and ensure there are no minor issues like water entering the system.

Another interesting aspect is that solar power plants (PLTS) don’t use combustion like coal-fired power plants, so they don’t emit greenhouse gases that can impact the environment. This makes solar power plants an environmentally friendly choice for our future.

Compared to coal-fired power plants, operating them is like managing a large factory. Maintenance requires a thorough understanding of various complex systems, such as boilers, turbines, cooling systems, and wastewater treatment plants. Maintenance involves regular inspections, repairing damaged components, and monitoring emission controls to reduce environmental impact.

Description for

Adults (19 years and over):

Solar power plants (PLTS) are less complex to maintain than coal-fired power plants. Furthermore, they contribute positively to the environment because they don’t involve burning fuel, which produces greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike complex coal-fired power plants (PLTS) managed centrally by PLN (State Electricity Company), solar power plants offer a simpler and more environmentally friendly solution. You can manage their maintenance by regularly cleaning the solar panels, much like you would any other household appliance.