Indonesia Has 230 MW Geothermal Co-generation Project Ready to Boost Clean Energy

Director General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Eniya Listiani Dewi. (Photo: Doc. KESDM)

JAKARTA - The government through the Directorate General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) has integrated co-generation technology in the Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) development project with a total capacity of 230 Megawatts (MW).

Just so you know, this technology allows waste heat from power plants, which is usually wasted, to be converted into additional electrical energy.

Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) Eniya Listiani Dewi explained that this project will be implemented through a partnership cooperation scheme, where PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) and PT PLN Indonesia Power (PLN IP) will form a joint venture.

Several geothermal working areas (WKP) that have been identified as project locations include Lahendong, Ulubelu, Lumut Balai, Hululais, Kamojang, Sibayak, and Sungai Penuh.

"The geothermal potential of around 24 GW will be maximized until 2060, one of the breakthroughs that can be done is co-generation that utilizes unused steam in the binary cycle model," Eniya explained, Wednesday, September 11.

Eniya said, the binary cycle itself is one of the technologies commonly used in PLTP. This system utilizes a working fluid with a lower boiling point than water, such as isobutane or pentane.

This working fluid is heated by geothermal steam, evaporates, and drives a turbine to generate electricity.

Meanwhile, the remaining heat in the secondary fluid can be utilized for various purposes, such as space heating or industrial processes.

Thus, co-generation in binary cycle PLTP allows for more efficient utilization of geothermal energy and produces electricity and heat simultaneously.

To realize this project, PGE and PLN have made various preparations, such as signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Joint Development Agreement (JDA). In addition, these projects will also be included in the 2024-2033 Electricity Supply Business Plan (RUPTL).

"We are optimistic that this project will contribute to increasing the energy mix and needs to be included in the 2024-2033 RUPTL project list," said Eniya.