Geothermal Powerhouse: Indonesia’s Booming Green Giant
Indonesia isn’t just known for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture; it’s also a geothermal energy powerhouse!
Nestled on the Ring of Fire, the country boasts the world’s largest estimated geothermal potential, with a whopping 23.7 gigawatts (GW) across 300 identified sites. That’s like harnessing the power of over 23 million homes!
Leading the Charge:
Despite its immense potential, Indonesia currently utilizes only a fraction of its geothermal capacity, ranking second globally with 2,130.7 MW of installed capacity. But the country is on a mission to change that. The government has ambitious plans to triple its geothermal capacity within the next decade, driven by:
- Energy Security: Geothermal offers a reliable, baseload source of power, crucial for a rapidly growing economy like Indonesia’s.
- Environmental Sustainability: Unlike fossil fuels, geothermal energy is clean and renewable, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
- Economic Opportunities: The sector attracts significant foreign investment and creates high-skilled jobs.
Challenges and Opportunities:
While the future looks bright, challenges remain. High upfront costs, complex exploration and development processes, and land acquisition issues can hinder progress. To overcome these hurdles, Indonesia needs:
- Streamlined regulations and licensing procedures to expedite project development.
- Enhanced financial incentives to attract more investments, particularly for exploration and drilling.
- Technology innovation to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
- Community engagement to ensure local communities benefit from the development and address concerns.
The Path Forward:
Indonesia’s geothermal journey is an inspiring story of potential and progress. With continued commitment from the government, industry, and international partners, the country can unlock its geothermal potential and become a true leader in clean and sustainable energy production, not just for itself but for the entire region.
Geothermal Power Plants in Indonesia: A Booming Green Energy Landscape
Indonesia’s geothermal power sector is one of the fastest-growing in the world, thanks to its abundant geothermal resources and commitment to clean energy. Here’s a list of some of the major geothermal power plants in Indonesia, along with their capacities:
Java Island:
- Kamojang Geothermal Power Plant: Located in West Java, Kamojang is the oldest and largest geothermal power plant in Indonesia with a total capacity of 377 MW. It consists of several units, the first of which started operating in 1983.
- Darajat Geothermal Power Plant: Also in West Java, Darajat has a total capacity of 243 MW. It’s known for its innovative binary cycle technology, which utilizes lower-temperature geothermal resources.
- Salak Geothermal Power Plant: Situated in Central Java, Salak has a capacity of 140 MW. It’s known for its scenic location, surrounded by mountains and rice paddies.
- Dieng Geothermal Power Plant: Located in Central Java, Dieng has a capacity of 60 MW. It’s one of the highest geothermal power plants in Indonesia, situated at an altitude of over 2,000 meters.
- Karaha Geothermal Power Plant: Located in West Java, Karaha has a capacity of 30 MW. It’s the first geothermal power plant in Indonesia to be built by a private company.
Sumatra Island:
- Sarulla Geothermal Power Plant: Located in North Sumatra, Sarulla has a capacity of 330 MW. It’s the largest geothermal power plant outside Java and plays a vital role in powering the island’s electricity grid.
- Ulubelu Geothermal Power Plant: Located in Lampung, Ulubelu has a capacity of 110 MW. It’s known for its advanced technology and environmental sustainability practices.
- Lumut Balai Geothermal Power Plant: Located in South Sumatra, Lumut Balai has a capacity of 110 MW. It’s one of the newest geothermal power plants in Indonesia and plays a key role in meeting the growing energy demand in the region.
Beyond Java and Sumatra:
- Lahendong Geothermal Power Plant: Located in North Sulawesi, Lahendong has a capacity of 80 MW. It’s the first geothermal power plant in Eastern Indonesia and serves as a model for future development in the region.
- Wayang Windu Geothermal Power Plant: Located in West Java, Wayang Windu has a capacity of 50 MW. It’s known for its unique flash steam technology and its contribution to rural electrification.
Table of Geothermal Power Plants in Indonesia
Geothermal Power Plants in Indonesia (as of January 15, 2024)
| Island | Power Plant | Capacity (MW) | Year Initiated | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java | Kamojang | 377 | 1983 | Oldest & largest, multiple units |
| Java | Darajat | 243 | – | Innovative binary cycle technology |
| Java | Salak | 140 | – | Scenic location, surrounded by mountains |
| Java | Dieng | 60 | – | High altitude (2,000+ meters) |
| Java | Karaha | 30 | – | First private-built geothermal plant |
| Sumatra | Sarulla | 330 | – | Largest outside Java, powers North Sumatra |
| Sumatra | Ulubelu | 110 | – | Advanced technology & environmental focus |
| Sumatra | Lumut Balai | 110 | – | New plant, supports regional energy demand |
| Sulawesi | Lahendong | 80 | – | First in Eastern Indonesia, model for future projects |
| Java | Wayang Windu | 50 | – | Unique flash steam technology & rural electrification |
Notes:
- Capacities may vary depending on source and recent updates.
- Year initiated information not readily available for all plants.
- Key features provided are highlights; additional details may exist for each plant.
This is just a glimpse of the extensive geothermal power plant landscape in Indonesia. With continued investment and development, Indonesia is poised to become a global leader in clean and sustainable energy production.
Key Takeaway:
- Indonesia sits on a massive geothermal treasure trove, but only a fraction is tapped.
- Ambitious plans aim to triple capacity within a decade, driven by energy security, environmental benefits, and economic opportunities.
- Challenges remain, including regulations, financing, technology, and community engagement.
- Overcoming these hurdles can make Indonesia a global geothermal leader and a beacon for clean energy.
https://www.exaputra.com/2024/01/indonesia-geothermal-power-plant.html
Renewable Energy
Trump’s Popularity on “The Continent”
I can’t swear that the data at left is accurate, but it certainly rings true based on the considerable number of Europeans I meet each month. They tend to disapprove of lawlessness, stupidity, and wars that are unnecessary and illegal.
By comparison, Americans are uneducated savages.
Renewable Energy
Moray West Offline, Iberdrola in Australia
Moray West Offline, Iberdrola in Australia
Allen covers a substation failure that has left Scotland’s 882 MW Moray West farm half-offline since November, GE Vernova’s new Italy contract and Milan factory investment, Iberdrola’s sixth Australian acquisition of 2026, and Flender India’s new gearbox test rig near Chennai.
Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!
The wind industry had quite a week.
Let us start in Scotland, off the rugged north-east coast, where something has gone quietly wrong. Ocean Winds and Ignitis built Moray West, an eight hundred and eighty-two megawatt offshore wind farm — one of the largest in Scotland. But one of its two offshore substations has been offline since November. Half the farm’s capacity … gone dark. And there is more. The project missed a contractual milestone last September under an off-take agreement. That triggered an event of default under its project lending agreements. The lenders and the sponsors have agreed to a short-term waiver. Discussions are described as constructive. Commercial operations, originally expected last year, are now targeted for sometime in 2026. Eight hundred and eighty-two megawatts … waiting.
Now, let us travel south to Italy. GE Vernova has won a contract to supply seventeen onshore turbines to IVPC Group’s Fortore wind farm in the Benevento region of southern Italy. The project tops one hundred megawatts. Turbine deliveries begin in twenty twenty-seven. GE Vernova is also investing thirty million dollars to expand its Sesto San Giovanni plant outside Milan. That investment boosts production of transformer bushings, the insulating components that keep high-voltage equipment running. About fifty new jobs are coming to that facility. And GE Vernova’s two-piece blade design for its six-point-one megawatt turbines is already drawing attention as developers scramble to crack Italy’s notoriously complex logistics and permitting hurdles. Italy is a market in motion.
Now, to the other side of the world. Iberdrola has completed the acquisition of the Ararat wind farm in Victoria, Australia. Two hundred and forty-two megawatts. Operational since twenty seventeen. This is Iberdrola’s sixth transaction of twenty twenty-six alone, and it marks the Spanish giant’s first owned generation asset in Victoria, Australia’s second most populous state. Iberdrola now operates in five Australian states with more than twenty-five hundred megawatts of installed capacity. Victoria has set a target of ninety-five percent renewable energy by twenty thirty-five. Iberdrola intends to help get it there.
And finally, from Chennai, India, comes a story about getting ready for what is coming. Flender India has just inaugurated its largest and most advanced gearbox test rig for wind turbines at its Walajabad facility near Chennai. The project began in January of twenty twenty-five at Flender’s Voerde site in Germany. From start to finish, thirteen months. Final assembly, three months. This is a collaboration between Flender’s operations in Germany, China, and India. CEO Andreas Evertz called it a testament to their global commitment to driving renewable energy solutions worldwide. India’s wind market is growing fast, and Flender is making sure it can test every gearbox that growth demands.
So, let us step back and look at the picture. A Scottish offshore wind farm sits half-dark while its owners negotiate with lenders. GE Vernova plants its flag in southern Italy and invests thirty million dollars in an Italian factory. Iberdrola expands to a sixth Australian transaction in a single year. And Flender India builds the biggest gearbox test rig on the subcontinent. And that is the state of the wind industry for the ninth of March, twenty twenty-six. Join us for the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast tomorrow
Renewable Energy
Two Thousand Years Later, Society’s Relationship with Religion Hasn’t Changed Much
As shown at left, the ancient Roman stoic philosopher Seneca had a viewpoint on religion that is shared 100% by modern atheists.
Two Thousand Years Later, Society’s Relationship with Religion Hasn’t Changed Much
-
Greenhouse Gases7 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Climate Change7 months ago
Guest post: Why China is still building new coal – and when it might stop
-
Greenhouse Gases2 years ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Bill Discounting Climate Change in Florida’s Energy Policy Awaits DeSantis’ Approval
-
Climate Change2 years ago
Spanish-language misinformation on renewable energy spreads online, report shows
-
Climate Change2 years ago嘉宾来稿:满足中国增长的用电需求 光伏加储能“比新建煤电更实惠”
-
Climate Change Videos2 years ago
The toxic gas flares fuelling Nigeria’s climate change – BBC News
-
Carbon Footprint2 years agoUS SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rules Spur Renewed Interest in Carbon Credits



