Great article. I'm interested in understanding Indonesia's theoretical maximum potential across various renewable energy sources.
Regarding geothermal energy: You state that Indonesia may hold 40% of the world's potential geothermal capacity, approximately 25-35GW. However, I'm wondering if you could provide citations for this 40% figure? The numbers may need updating, as recent technological innovations have expanded estimated capacities. For example, the US Department of Energy now estimates ~100GW of geothermal potential in the United States alone, suggesting Indonesia's potential could be significantly higher than previously thought.
I look forward to reading more about how other renewable sources could help fill this gap.
You're right, it is an impressionistic number and certainly not a hard statistic. Calculating the total potential energy of all unexplored reservoirs will never be exact and what's more, new generation of geothermal power has the potential to generate power without strict dependence on geography like the presence of natural reservoirs. If you are interested to read more about developments in unconventional geothermal, I encourage you to read more at Austin Vernon's blog here:
Interesting article. I am glad that Indonesia is getting a little attention. It is the third or fourth most important nation in Asia, and it get relatively little attention.
For the foreseeable future, I think coal will dominate Indonesian electricity generation.
Is there absolutely zero interest in being part of the effort to reduce net CO2 emissions? Why no tax n net CO2 emissions to finance alternative technologies?
Great article. I'm interested in understanding Indonesia's theoretical maximum potential across various renewable energy sources.
Regarding geothermal energy: You state that Indonesia may hold 40% of the world's potential geothermal capacity, approximately 25-35GW. However, I'm wondering if you could provide citations for this 40% figure? The numbers may need updating, as recent technological innovations have expanded estimated capacities. For example, the US Department of Energy now estimates ~100GW of geothermal potential in the United States alone, suggesting Indonesia's potential could be significantly higher than previously thought.
I look forward to reading more about how other renewable sources could help fill this gap.
https://www.utilitydive.com/news/doe-geothermal-generation-could-reach-60-gw-by-2050-with-tech-improvement/555948/
https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/energy/geothermal-energy-factsheet
Thank you. 40% is one of those numbers that I've seen float around half a dozen places, including here: https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/an-overview-of-indonesias-geothermal-energy-sector/
You're right, it is an impressionistic number and certainly not a hard statistic. Calculating the total potential energy of all unexplored reservoirs will never be exact and what's more, new generation of geothermal power has the potential to generate power without strict dependence on geography like the presence of natural reservoirs. If you are interested to read more about developments in unconventional geothermal, I encourage you to read more at Austin Vernon's blog here:
https://austinvernon.site/blog/geothermal.html
or his Substack:
https://austinvernon.substack.com/
I will definitely be writing more about geothermal and renewable energy in Indonesia.
Thank you!
Great Piece
Interesting article. I am glad that Indonesia is getting a little attention. It is the third or fourth most important nation in Asia, and it get relatively little attention.
For the foreseeable future, I think coal will dominate Indonesian electricity generation.
Agree, but taxing net emissions of CO2 could start to bend the curve
But it will also increase energy prices, which is much worse, particularly for a developing nation like Indonesia.
Developing nations like Indonesia should be focused on economic development. Raising taxes on a key input to economic growth would be very misguided.
And there are many other reasons to oppose a carbon tax:
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/why-a-carbon-tax-will-not-work
Where is nuclear?
Is there absolutely zero interest in being part of the effort to reduce net CO2 emissions? Why no tax n net CO2 emissions to finance alternative technologies?