VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Geothermal plants will allow the nation to produce electricity continuously and support solar energy and wind power plants, which can only produce electricity when there is sunlight or when the wind is blowing, according to the National Energy Council (DEN). (ANTARA/HO-PLN) - 

The optimal development of geothermal power plants (PLTP) is necessary to support the penetration of solar and wind power plants that produce electricity intermittently, member of the National Energy Council (DEN), Herman Darnel Ibrahim, has said.

"Its maximum development in the future is needed to support the penetration of intermittent power plants such as solar power plants (PLTS) and wind power plants (PLTB), which will then support the energy transition towards net-zero emissions," he explained during a discussion related to the nation's geothermal potential here on Thursday.

Geothermal is a potential natural resource for Indonesia since the country is located in the Ring of Fire, he noted adding, it will potentially allow the nation to produce electricity continuously and support solar energy and wind power plants, which can only produce electricity when there is sunlight or when the wind is blowing.

"The installed capacity of stun magma in Indonesia is recorded at 2,384.9 megawatts (MW) or about 10 percent of the total resources of 24 thousand MW," he noted. This capacity is the second largest in the world after the United States, he pointed out.

"Electricity from geothermal energy is a base load generator that can continuously (generate electricity). So, this is very different from intermittent solar energy or wind energy," said Ibrahim.

The average installed capacity growth of geothermal energy in Indonesia is just 60 MW per year, he said. In comparison, the average growth in installed capacity of geothermal electricity globally is 200 MW per year, he added.

The recently published Electricity Supply Business Plan Fund (RUPTL) of the State Electricity Company (PLN) has set a target of generating 5,474 MW of power from geothermal power plants by 2030, he noted.

"The development of PLTPs is currently still slow due to the price policy, which is considered by the developer to be unattractive. However, if the price is raised, it will be a burden for the government and PLN," explained Ibrahim.

"While national electricity consumption is estimated to reach around 2 thousand TWh in 2050, the maximum role of geothermal power plants is estimated to only meet about 10 percent of the need," he added//ANT