National Electricity Company Research Articles

The impact of blackouts on the performance of micro and small enterprises: Evidence from Indonesia

The reliability of electricity supply is one of the most pressing challenges faced by many micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in developing countries. MSEs play a pivotal role in generating employment in these countries, yet the productivity of MSEs is relatively low. Little is known about how blackouts affect performance of MSEs. This paper is the first study to estimate the impact of such power blackouts on productivity of manufacturing MSEs and to discuss the role of the government in addressing the problem. We employed a pseudo-panel dataset covering six firm cohorts within 21 regions the Indonesian national electricity company operates in from 2010 to 2015. Our identification strategy firstly involved examining blackouts determinants and then using these determinants as instruments in an instrumental variable (IV) dynamic panel fixed effects estimation while controlling for factors that potentially affected productivity and correlated with blackouts. We found that electricity blackouts reduced average labor productivity and the resultant losses amounted to approximately IDR 71.5 billion (USD 4.91 million) per year in Indonesia. Therefore, it is crucial to improve electricity supply reliability in developing countries. We found that introducing a captive generator as a way to cope with power outages is positively associated with productivity, and that MSEs that have captive generators benefit when the power supply is poor. Our findings will assist policy makers to prioritize addressing power blackouts relative to other constraints MSEs face.

Energy System Audit of Lighting and Air Conditioning in Building E and F Cilacap State Polytechnic

The purpose of this study was to conduct a review of energy audits in the lighting systems and air conditioning of building E and F of the Cilacap State Polytechnic. The results of the calculation of energy audits in lighting can be used as a guideline to make efficiency in the use of electrical energy. The initial step taken in this study was to look for primary and secondary data. Primary data is obtained by making direct measurements in all building rooms E and F. Secondary data obtained from relevant agencies such as the Cilacap State Polytechnic building data; energy demand data from the Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Office; and data on electricity consumption from the National Electricity Company (PLN). The data is then processed to obtain the value of Energy Use Intensity (IKE) and can also be used as a guide for carrying out measures in energy efficiency. Based on the calculation and processing of the data obtained, the energy consumption of buildings E and F is 3,259.82 kWh/month and 3,650.96 kWh/month. The results of the energy audit calculations performed on the building lighting systems E and F with a building area of ​​287 m2 and 399 m2 have a building IKE value of 11.37 kWh/ m2/month and 9.16 kWh/m2/month. Based on the IKE criteria index, it was found that building E and F of the Cilacap State Polytechnic were included in the criteria of efficiency.

Analysis of Power Transformer Insulation: A Case Study in 150 kV Bantul Substation

Insulation of the transformer is one of the essential components. So that the quality of the resistance in the isolation of the transformer is essential to note the condition, in order to find out the condition of the transformer isolation, several tests must be performed, namely the polarization index, delta tangent, and break down voltage. In this study, all three tests were carried out on Transformer 1 in the 150 kV Bantul substation. Polarization index testing itself is testing the leakage current on the transformer isolation by comparing the test results for 1 minute with the results of the 10-minute drive test. While delta tangent is testing capacitive leakage current in the isolation transformer, and break down voltage is a test of the ability of the breakdown voltage in transformer insulation oil. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be seen that the value of the transformer polarization index in 2016 and 2018, the average value between the windings has been in the rating of 1.25-2.0. As for the delta tangent test results in 2016 and 2018, the value between the capacitive parts is already in the rating of 0.18% -0.36%. For the breakdown voltage test results in 2016 and 2018, the average breakdown voltage value is 43.9 kV/mm - 65.5 kV/mm. From these data, it can be concluded that the transformer isolation conditions in 2016 and 2018 are in good condition, although there was a decline in the transformer isolation conditions in 2016. However, the National Electric Company has made repairs and maintenance of the isolation transformer. This is seen due to an increase in the quality of transformer insulation in 2018. Repair and maintenance of transformer insulation are done to maximize the work system and the life of the transformer.

Energy Performance Analysis of On-Grid Solar Photovoltaic System- a Practical Case Study

This research paper presents an experimental investigation for performance evaluation and energy efficiency estimation of a specific grid connected PV power system under real meteorological conditions. The basic installation and data of 10 MW Oryx photovoltaic plant (OPVP) installed in Ma'an, Jordan is introduced. The main objective of this research is to show and examine the obtained results and build a good database for Ma'an in particular and Jordan in general. In addition, promote the use of solar photovoltaic plants as a clean and cheap alternative energy source, whether on-grid or standalone. This approach relies on a genuine atmosphere conditions including, correspondence system and meteorological station. The weather data are obtained from three different weather stations in Ma'an, Jordan to compare and insure the accurate estimation. Last year, OPVP supplied the national electric power company in Jordan with 24.157 GWh. This integration was considered satisfactory during this period, where the annual energy efficiency of the OPVP was 12.1% and the average annual value of the performance ratio was 78.14%, and the average annual capacity factor was 26.34%. By comparing the results with the actual values, it is ascertained that the proposed approach has the superiority over estimating the energy efficiency and performance of PV plants. Moreover, the outcomes obtained can be utilized as rules for the use of solar PV power plants in Jordan and other comparative climatic nations.

Innovation in Municipal Waste Management in Malang, Indonesia

This paper described explanation about innovation of waste management reflected in Waste Bank in Indonesia. Malang district was the suitable place due to the success of Malang Waste Bank (MWB) in initiating waste management innovation. Qualitative method was used in order to give clear understanding. The result showed that there are some innovations was created by waste bank like waste saving that can be used to finance daily needs such as education, groceries, health, and social activities. The bank also used information technology to record and report on customer savings. In order to maintain the sustainability, the waste bank cooperated with some stakeholders such as local government, National Electric Company, and some local waste businessman. There are several factors influencing the success of waste bank in managing waste, including: understanding of waste business networks and the ability to position itself in the business networks, supporting from local government and other agencies to conduct waste business, and involving environmental activists in the waste management.

Electricity services always in the making: Informality and the work of infrastructure maintenance and repair in an African city

Access to ‘formal’ electricity networks remains a key challenge in many African urban areas. Significant attention has been paid to how access to an electricity connection should be provided, with much less attention paid to how electricity infrastructures are operated and maintained. Attention to how utilities govern the challenges inherent to ‘informality’ in the production of ‘formal’ networked infrastructure is less common, especially in African cities. Moreover, with a few notable exceptions, studies on infrastructure maintenance and repair treat ‘informality’ as a subtext to broader examinations of the uneven urban landscapes produced through infrastructure and its mediating technologies. Drawing on a socio-technical approach to electricity infrastructures, this article explores how utilities engage with ‘informality’ to produce access to ‘formal’ electricity networks through everyday processes of maintenance and repair. To this end, the article uses the empirical case of Mozambique’s national electricity company, EDM (Electricidade de Moçambique, E.P.) and its transition to an electricity network mediated by prepayment technologies in the capital city Maputo. The article argues that a socio-technical approach to infrastructures provides key insights into how utilities implicate the spatial and socio-economic dimensions of ‘informality’ in the design, delivery, and maintenance and repair of ‘formal’ electricity networks. Utilities do so through pragmatic, situated practices that sustain and continually produce and reproduce infrastructures in cities. This highlights how infrastructures are always precarious achievements and service delivery is always a process in the making. The article is based on deskwork, archival work, and fieldwork conducted by the author in Maputo since 2013.

Energy cost unit of street and park lighting system with solar technology for a more friendly city

Street and park lighting system is part of a basic infrastructure need to be available in such a friendly city. Enough light will provide more comfort to citizens, especially at night since its function to illuminate roads and park environments around the covered area. The necessity to add more and more lighting around the city caused the rapid growth of the street and park lighting system while the power from PLN (national electricity company) is insufficient and the cost is getting higher. Therefore, it is necessary to consider other energy sources that are economical, environmentally friendly with good continuity. Indonesia, which located on the equator, have benefited from getting solar radiation throughout the year. This free solar radiation can be utilized as an energy source converted by solar cells to empower street and park lighting system. In this study, we planned the street and park lighting with solar technology as alternatives. It was found that for Kota Medan itself, an average solar radiation intensity of 3,454.17 Wh / m2 / day is available. By using prediction and projection method, it was calculated that the energy cost unit for this system was at Rp 3,455.19 per kWh. This cost was higher than normal energy cost unit but can answer the scarcity of energy availability for street and park lighting system

Enhancing Energy Security through Utilization of Local Resources

Remote rural villages in Indonesia do not have sufficient infrastructure to maintain an economically sound energy generation and distribution. Sparse area and low population hinder national electricity company PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara) to connect these remote rural villages to the national grid. Most of the villages lie in the palm oil plantation, where renewable biomass resources from the Palm Oil Mill wastes are plentiful. Untapped biomass resources could be the answer to energy security issue in the remote rural area. Berau Regency in East Kalimantan Province has many villages located in the palm oil plantation area. Nearly all of the palm oil processing plants in Berau use palm shell and fiber to power the mill. Some of them have the agreement with PLN to sell their excess power. This scheme can be applied to provide electricity to villages around the palm oil mills. However, it is unreliable since the amount of excess electricity produced keeps fluctuating. This paper explores the idea of village-owned biomass/biogas power plant that is owned and operated by the villagers themselves. That way, the village can ensure its energy security using sustainable local resources. In conclusion, the investment cost of biomass/biogas power plant cannot be provided by village annual budget. Although the villages in Berau Regency have a relatively high annual budget, wich is about Rp2 billion to Rp5 billion, the investment costs of biomass/biogas power plant is even higher. According to the economic analysis of biomass/biogas power plant development, a biomass power plant with 1,7 MW capacity can cost up to Rp46 billion. Moreover, a biogas power plant with 1 MW capacity costs around 41 billion. It is not possible for the villages to finance the power plant development by themselves. Therefore, the private sector is needed to implement biomass/biogas utilization for rural electrification from palm oil waste. With the Net Present Value (NPV) up to Rp 65.078.072.000,00 and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 20% for biomass power plant and Rp14.330.070.000,00 and 10% for biogas power plant, it is economically feasible and profitable for private enterprise to undertake. The challenges are for the government to encourage the private sector to invest and for PLN to sign Power Purchase Agreement with these palm oil enterprises rather than just Excess Power Agreement.
 JEL Classification: I39Keywords: Biomass, biogas, renewable energy, palm oil waste utilization

A two-stage short-term load forecasting approach using temperature daily profiles estimation

Electrical load forecasting plays an important role in the regular planning of power systems, in which load is influenced by several factors that must be analysed and identified prior to modelling in order to ensure better and instant load balancing between supply and demand. This paper proposes a two-stage approach for short-term electricity load forecasting. In the first stage, a set of day classes of load profiles are identified using K-means clustering algorithm alongside daily temperature estimation profiles. The proposed estimation method is particularly useful in case of lack of historical regular temperature data. While in the second stage, the stacked denoising autoencoders approach is used to build regression models able to forecast each day type independently. The obtained models are trained and evaluated using hourly electricity power data offered by Algeria’s National Electricity and Gas Company. Several models are investigated to substantiate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed approach.

Sound pollution: a source of social health inequality for people living near fixed and intermittent sources of pollution in Burkina Faso

This article relies on a Poisson modelling framework to examine the impact of constant and intermittent sound pollution on social health inequalities in Burkina Faso from the angle of hearing impairments. Using a random sample of 838 people in 200 household living nearby the international airport of Ouagadougou, and the National Electricity Company's (SONABEL) thermal power plants, the empirical results show that noise intensity is a significant determinant of hearing loss and a source of environmental inequity. In fact, constant exposure to high-intensity noise doubles the probability of developing hearing loss compared to temporary exposure. Consequently, to protect themselves, people tend to choose areas less exposed to noise but relatively more expensive, and hence supporting Charles Tiebout's theory of voting by the feet. The results also points out the problems of poor urban planning in developing countries, and suggest that prevention and promotion policies targeting the poorest are possible ways of reducing social health inequalities.

Detection and Solutions for Non-Technical Losses in Cameroon Electricity Network

The purpose of this study was to provide a tool to detect NTLs and subsequently, discuss the establishment of a prepaid system in Cameroon. The conception of a prepayment system for electric power or other utility commodity distribution using Wi-Fi and GSM to store and transfer value (money or KWh, meters reading indexes) from the client module to cut-off module then to platform of the system and deliver power to the customer from the power distribution system. This system is also used as fraud detection model for the Cameroon National Electricity Company.

Assessment of CO2 - EOR and Storage Capacity in South Sumatera and West Java Basins

A study of carbon dioxide-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) and storage capacity in South Sumatera and West Java Basins, Indonesia has been conducted in conjunctions with the project plans of Indonesia National Electric Company to build carbon capture and storage ready coal power plants in Bojonegara of West Java and Muara Enim of South Sumatera. The Bojonegara power plant comprises 2×1000 MWe Ultra Super Critical Units, while Muara Enim consists of 2×300 MWe subcritical units. Those two power plants will produce approximately 11 and 4 million tons of CO2 per year. The geology of South Sumatera and West Java Basins are proven to have kept oil and gas in place safely for long time periods and there are many oil and gas companies production still active in those basins. Those basins are confirmed to be used as storage of CO2, where capacity, injectivity, and confinement will be suitable to keep CO2 in place for a period of time. CO2 production from those power plants in South Sumatera and West Java may be offered to the nearby oil companies and transported to oil fields for CO2-EOR flooding to get additional revenue. A preliminary CO2-EOR screening has been done for the oil fields surrounding the power plants. There are two types of mechanisms for CO2-EOR, which depend on the nature of the oilfield: immiscible EOR and miscible EOR. Immiscible EOR occurs where the injected CO2 does not mix with the oil but instead displaces the oil from the area where the CO2 is injected and increases the pressure of the oil at the production wells so that it can be pumped out. Miscible EOR occurs where the supercritical CO2 mixes miscibility with the residual oil to make it less viscous and facilitating its flow to the production wells. A total of 127 oil fields in South Sumatera has been analyzed to select which of those fields fulfill CO2-EOR injection criteria. EOR reservoir screenings were performed on those oil fields on which detailed information was available using the screening criteria proposed by Taber et al. The criteria include a set of parameters such as API gravity, oil viscosity, current pressure, temperature, oil saturation, remaining oil, formation depth, thickness, porosity, permeability, and rock type which help to determine whether or not a reservoir is suitable for CO2-EOR injection. 96 fields are classified as miscible displacement while the remaining 31 fields are categorized as immiscible. The result shows that the potency of additional recovery from those fields is around 661 million stock tank barrels with CO2 requirement of approximately 243 million tonnes. In addition to EOR, pure CCS to inject the CO2 emission into depleted gas fields in West Java and South Sumatera regions is also considered. The maximum storage capacity of West Java gas fields is approximately 395 million tonnes, while the storage capacity of South Sumatera is around 537 million tonnes. The potential for storing CO2 in the saline aquifer was also calculated theoretically. The depleted gas fields and aquifers are considered enough to store the CO2 emission from the power plants as long as 25 years.

Evaluation of Customer Behaviour Irregularities in Cameroon Electricity Network using Support Vector Machine

Non-Technical Losses (NTLs) in the Cameroonians electricity network are approximately 30 to 40% of production and are estimated at several billion CFA francs per year for National Electricity Company (ENEO); Hence the importance of finding effective solutions to fight against these losses. The purpose of this work was to develop a tool for the fraud detection for Cameroon National Electricity Company (ENEO) using support vector machines which consisted in data preprocessing base on the load profile, development of a model for classification, parameter optimization and detection of customers irregularities and prediction.

Implementation of Backpropagation Artificial Neural Network as a Forecasting System of Power Transformer Peak Load at Bumiayu Substation

The National Electricity Company (PT PLN) should have an estimated peak load of the substation transformer in the future. This is useful to be able to achieve transformer capability and can be used as a first step to anticipate the possibility of replacement of a new transformer. This research presents a peak load forecasting system transformer1 and transformer2 in Bumiayu substation using Backpropagation Artificial Neural Network (ANN). This study includes the procedures for establishing a network model and manufacture forecasting system based GUI (Graphic User Interface) using MATLAB 2015a. The formation of the network model refers to input variables consisting of GRDP data, population data and historical data of peak load of transformer. In this research, a multilayer network model, which consists of 1 input layer, 2 hidden layers and 1 output layer, is used. The peak load forecasting of transformer1 produces 5.7593e-08 for training MSE and 5.3784e-04 for testing MSE. Meanwhile, forecasting the peak load transformer2 generated 3.3433e-08 for training MSE and 9,4710e-04 for testing MSE.

Trial and Error in State-Owned Enterprise Reform in Laos

In this article we trace the history of state-owned enterprise (SOE) reform in Laos. Commencing in 1986, SOE reform was a component of the New Economic Mechanism (NEM), a program of changes that moved the economy toward one based on market principles. SOE reform is located within the broader reforms associated with the NEM and is divided into three distinct phases. We present and analyze a case study of the reform of the national electricity company (Electricite du Laos) in terms of a stages model of power sector reform. The overall findings show the importance of context in influencing the specific nature of SOE reform.

TOWARD RURAL SUSTAINABLE PHOTOVOLTAICS DEVELOPMENT IN INDONESIA THE EFFECTS OF SOCIOECONOMIC BENEFIT, INFORMATION ACCESS, AND FINANCING FACILITIES TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PHOTOVOLTAICS TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS

The search for a substitute for fossil energy resources in view of the growing demand for environmentally friendly technologies for electricity generation, and the needs of the growing economics and population in Indonesia have increased the interest in photovoltaic as a long term, environmentally friendly and reliable energy technology. Although Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined China and India as the only G20 members posting growth during the 2009 economic crisis, Indonesia still struggles with poverty and unequal energy distribution. Fortypercent of Indonesian households are still not electrified and most of them live in the rural area.Indonesia is trying to introduce a modern electricity technology to rural population who cannot be served economically or in a timely manner by the conventional rural electrification system. For several decades, the electricity generation in Indonesia have been under the monopolistic management of national electric company, PLN controlled and funded by the government.Experience shows that PLN has for reasons of limited funding, inadequate capacity, and has been unable to service and ensure the expansion of the utility grid to most rural households.The utilization of a photovoltaic system is targeted to contribute to the rural electrification and contribute in total of one half percent to the domestic energy mix. The photovoltaic development in Indonesia is progressing very slowly. The goal to have 50 MWp of photovoltaic generating power in the year 2010 has not been accomplished. Current installed photovoltaic capacity is 10 MWp about 2.85 percent of the year 2025 target. This dissertation studies socio and economic viability, rural information access and financial facilities influences to the sustainability of photovoltaic system dissemination in the rural area of Indonesia

A Better Life for All? Democratization and Electrification in Post-Apartheid South Africa

Does democracy affect basic service delivery? If yes, who benefits, and which elements of democracy matter—enfranchisement, the liberalization of political organization, or both? In 1994, 19 million South Africans gained the right to vote. The previously banned African National Congress was elected promising “a better life for all.” Using a difference-in-differences approach, we exploit heterogeneity in the share of newly enfranchised voters across municipalities to evaluate how franchise extension affected household electrification. Our unique data set combines night-light satellite imagery, geo-referenced census data, and municipal election results from the 1990s. We include covariates, run placebo regressions, and examine contiguous census tracts. We find that enfranchisement increased electrification. In parts of the country where municipalities lacked distribution capacity, the national electricity company prioritized core constituencies of the ANC. The effect of democratization on basic services dep...

Revisiting the Regulatory Framework: A Necessary Action to Promote the Deployment of Renewable Energy Sources for Electricity in Jordan

Jordan has been suffering from dependence on imported energy for decades and the recent geopolitical situations in its neighbouring countries have affected its energy security, allowing only an intermittent supply of imported fuels to Jordan.Moreover, the consequent volatility of fuel prices resulted in immense debt for the National Electricity Company in 2013. To manage these crises, the Jordanian government aims to diversify Jordan's energy sources and to promote local energy production. It has begun a gradual reduction in subsidies for fossil fuels and it has prepared legal and financial forecasts based on the strong potentials of solar and wind power. Despite its adoption of economic instruments, such as net metering and auction provisions, the government did not achieve its targeted 7% of energy from renewable sources by 2015. To ensure the achievement of the target of 10% by 2020 and the effective implementation of the plan for green growth, Jordan's energy laws and policies need to be revised continuously.

MODELING CONTROL OF AUTOMATIC VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH PROPORTIONAL INTEGRAL DERIVATIVE

The Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) cannot respond generator output voltage quickly resulting in drop voltage and can be affected to the electrical system. AVR controller simulation model created in power system based on real data from National Electricity Company (PLN) ( Tello Power Plant Makassar case). AVR controller response time under normal conditions has the oscillation time of about 9 seconds and response time when loaded is about 15 seconds. Resulting unstable voltage in the system follows load changes. With the addition of Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controllers acquired a controlling response time to changing loads faster and system voltage will change the voltage stability limit of ± 5% of nominal voltage. AVR controller with PID is very suitable for controlling the voltage of power generation system due to changes in load.

Ionising radiation and risk of death from leukaemia and lymphoma in radiation-monitored workers (INWORKS): an international cohort study

SummaryBackgroundThere is much uncertainty about the risks of leukaemia and lymphoma after repeated or protracted low-dose radiation exposure typical of occupational, environmental, and diagnostic medical settings. We quantified associations between protracted low-dose radiation exposures and leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma mortality among radiation-monitored adults employed in France, the UK, and the USA.MethodsWe assembled a cohort of 308 297 radiation-monitored workers employed for at least 1 year by the Atomic Energy Commission, AREVA Nuclear Cycle, or the National Electricity Company in France, the Departments of Energy and Defence in the USA, and nuclear industry employers included in the National Registry for Radiation Workers in the UK. The cohort was followed up for a total of 8·22 million person-years. We ascertained deaths caused by leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. We used Poisson regression to quantify associations between estimated red bone marrow absorbed dose and leukaemia and lymphoma mortality.FindingsDoses were accrued at very low rates (mean 1·1 mGy per year, SD 2·6). The excess relative risk of leukaemia mortality (excluding chronic lymphocytic leukaemia) was 2·96 per Gy (90% CI 1·17–5·21; lagged 2 years), most notably because of an association between radiation dose and mortality from chronic myeloid leukaemia (excess relative risk per Gy 10·45, 90% CI 4·48–19·65).InterpretationThis study provides strong evidence of positive associations between protracted low-dose radiation exposure and leukaemia.FundingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire, AREVA, Electricité de France, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, US Department of Energy, US Department of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina, Public Health England.