LCA Study of Paritohan Hydropower Eco-Innovation

Toba, 21 Maret 2024 - PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminum or INALUM has succeeded in integrating the Eco-Innovation program in the Paritohan Hydroelectric Power Plant Area with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study based on SNI ISO 14040:2016 and SNI ISO 14044:2017. This synergy has a significant impact on the operations of the INALUM PLTA in Paritohan becoming more efficient and environmentally friendly. This has resulted in INALUM Paritohan Unit receiving the 2023 Gold Proper from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia.

INALUM Corporate Secretary Mahyaruddin Ende said that the success of this adaptation was the result of the efforts of colleagues at Paritohan in presenting environmentally friendly technology in terms of providing renewable energy. The company hopes that these innovations can continue to be present and can make INALUM a modern, environmentally friendly company.

"Finally, the innovation efforts of the INALUM Paritohan Unit in synergizing the LCA Study and Eco-Innovation can bear fruit. Of course, this is the best achievement because the company is committed to creating an environmentally friendly aluminum industry. "Of course, this will make Paritohan PLTA operations more efficient without reducing the supply of electricity for smelting needs," said Mahyaruddin.

For information, LCA studies are an upstream to downstream or cradle to grave approach to quantitatively assess a product system. By conducting a life cycle assessment, decision makers can have a data and fact-based basis for making decisions. LCA can be used starting from product design, developing better production processes, product and process innovation, improving environmental management systems, product or process selection and supplier selection, communicating environmental information for products produced by the company, determining company strategy, to decision making. for policy in government. LCA is a quantitative measuring tool for sustainable development.

At the INALUM Paritohan Hydroelectric Unit, Eco-Innovation through an LCA approach was carried out on 3 dams owned by the company and focused on Energy Efficiency, Emission Reduction and Water Efficiency.

In terms of Energy Efficiency, INALUM PLTA through the Dam Regulator is able to save energy of up to 14,232 GJ so that it can increase energy efficiency, resource productivity, product virtualization, etc. Meanwhile, in reducing emissions, INALUM reduced GHG emissions by up to 0.736 TonCO2eq by implementing an Isolating Power System With Switch-Gear.

Then in the B3 waste management aspect, INALUM carried out Reclaiming Lube-Oil using the vacuum treatment method on the main transformer, namely by replacing the process with one that is more efficient and effective so that the level of waste generation is lower (i.e. a more eco-efficient process). The result obtained from this innovation is that INALUM is able to reduce B3 waste  up to 1.16 tonnes.

Meanwhile, for Non-B3 Waste, INALUM has succeeded in utilizing stator coil waste in generators as supporting raw material for making aluminum ingots. The results Promoted and improved recycling, upcycling, recycling, waste (i.e. logistics, take-back systems, technology, etc. As well as successfully reducing Non-B3 Waste by up to 1.16 Tons.

Meanwhile, in terms of water efficiency, INALUM uses modified rotation of the refrigerator inlet angle to optimize the cooling process. With this process, INALUM succeeded in increasing water efficiency to 1,088,640 m3.

The company is committed to energy efficiency and optimizing the use of renewable energy sources and conserving natural resources. INALUM has obtained ISO 50001:2018 certification which meets the requirements of the international Energy Management System standard. INALUM received the National Report and Commitment Award in the Implementation of Energy Management in the field of energy efficiency in 2019 from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia.