The Study of Supercritical Geothermal Potential in Indonesia from Geoscience Perspective

Abstract

Indonesia has set the target by 2060 anticipate the geothermal energy able to supply approximately 22 GW of the country energy demand. Realizing the ambitious goal through the nowadays geothermal extraction method appears challenging. The nation's favourable geological positioning within a subduction zone has elevated temperature conditions and shallow intrusions, indicative of potential supercritical geothermal reservoirs. Supercritical geothermal systems, characterized by exceedingly high enthalpy and located near or below the brittle-ductile transition zone, offer notable promise, marked by distinct temperature, pressure, and fluid attributes. Due to their exceptional power output per well, supercritical geothermal systems exhibit enhanced economic competitiveness for geothermal power plant initiatives. Moreover, they hold potential as efficient sources for green hydrogen production. This study aims to explore the opportunities for developing supercritical geothermal systems in Indonesia from geoscience perspective. Several developed geothermal fields which show signs of high temperature will be investigated to seek possibilities for further development. The study will involve discussions with geothermal developers, capture signals and clues for supercritical geothermal systems, and identify the geological settings and magmatic environments of developed geothermal fields in Indonesia. Challenges, benefits, and business opportunities of supercritical geothermal projects will then be examined, from the technical aspects. The main results will present considerations in developing supercritical geothermal projects along with the candidates for pilot projects in Indonesia.