On Monday (26/7/2021), ITB Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering (FMPE) held an ITB International Geothermal Workshop with expert speakers in their fields to present in two talk show sessions on the role of geothermal in energy transition. The event was titled “Synergy for Energy Transition: The Role of Geothermal Energy in Energy Transition”.

Geothermal in Energy Transition

At the event, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif said the Indonesian government is planning to add 28 giga-watts (GW) of new renewable energy (NRE) by 2035. In addition, breakthroughs in renewable energy are also targeted to reach 23% by 2025, prioritizing solar energy with consideration of installation time and cost.

Arifin also explained 5 stages in the development of geothermal energy in Indonesia, starting from back pressure turbines, condensation turbines, combination cycles, small binary power plants, and hydrogen then direct use.

According to Marit Brommer, as the Advisory Board of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the role of renewable energy is urgently needed, considering that climate change is currently happening on an extraordinary scale. In addition, Marit also compiled a journal report on the prospect of renewable energy in Indonesia. "Indonesia is recommended to focus on developing renewable energy for industry, buildings, and transportation," he said.

Geothermal Plan, Strategy, and Management to Accelerate Energy Transition

Dadan Kusdiana as Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) explained the government's steps in achieving a geothermal energy power plant capacity of 9.3 GW by 2035.

Geothermal Development Roadmap Program 2020–2035, these programs include drilling and exploration of geothermal energy, providing access to funding through the Geothermal Sector Infrastructure Financing (PISP) ??and Geothermal Resource Risk Mitigation (GRRM), the collaboration between PT PLN (Persero) and PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero), the cooperation between PT PLN (Persero) and PT Pertamina, as well as the development of expansion of small-scale geothermal energy power plants.

This event was previously opened with remarks by the Rector of ITB, Prof. Reini Wirahadikusumah, Ph.D., Dean of FMPE ITB Prof. Ridho Kresna Wattimena, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan as Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment of the Republic of Indonesia, and Prijandaru Effendi as chairman of the Indonesian Geothermal Association (INAGA).

Reporter: Athira Syifa (Teknologi Pascapanen, 2019)
Translator: Aghisna Syifa Rahmani (Biologi, 2020)