Development of Geothermal Energy Direct Use in Indonesia

Abstract

As a country with vast potential of high enthalpy geothermal resources, Indonesia has been focusing the development of geothermal energy for electricity generation. On the other hand, Indonesia is also blessed with a huge low-to-medium geothermal resources such as hot springs, natural geothermal wells, etc., which can be applied for direct use applications. Besides the above geothermal resources, direct use applications also utilize energy from un-exploited brine and small capacity production wells. In general, the geothermal resources in Indonesia are located in mountainous areas with agricultural lands (including plantations), forestry, bathing and spa resorts, etc. which need heat for their processes or activities. This is a perfect situation for the geothermal energy direct use to be developed. However, unfortunately at present the direct use of geothermal energy in Indonesia is very low. Agency for the Assessment & Application of Technology (BPPT) has been developing direct use applications since 1999 by utilizing various geothermal resources such as steam from a small well, brine from a separator in an existing power plant, and hot water from natural as well as man-made shallow geothermal wells for mushroom cultivation, copra and cocoa drying, etc.