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Technology Development of Steam-spot Detection and Sustainable Resource Use for Large Enhancement of Geothermal Power Generation in Indonesia

Environment / Energy (Carbon Neutrality)

Republic of Indonesia

Finished

Technology Development of Steam-spot Detection and Sustainable Resource Use for Large Enhancement of Geothermal Power Generation in Indonesia

Utilize Renewable Geothermal Energy for a Low-carbon Society

Principal Investigator

- Prof.
  KOIKE Katsuaki
  Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
- Prof.
  Sudarto Notosiswojo
  Faculty of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)

ODA Recipient Country

Republic of Indonesia

Research Institutions in Japan

Kyoto University

Research Institutions in Counterpart Country

Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)

Adoption fiscal year

FY 2014

Research Period

5 Years

Overview of the Research Project

Accurately specifying spots suitable for power generation and promoting use of geothermal resources
Indonesia is a volcanic country with one of the world's greatest potentials for geothermal power generation. From criteria of power output and temporal stability, geothermal is the most promising renewable energy, and Indonesia plans to greatly increase its geothermal power output. This increase necessarily involves many deep drilling operations in order to identify spots suitable for geothermal power generation, which requires a tremendous expense. This project aims to reduce the initial costs and raise the identification success rate by integrating several methods that do not require drilling, such as satellite remote sensing and geomorphological analysis. The outcome is expected to promote the use of geothermal resources.
* Remote sensing: A method of obtaining data by remotely photographing or measuring the Earth's surface using sensors on board satellites or aircraft.

Promoting use of geothermal resources and reducing dependency on fossil fuels
Utilization of geothermal resources is expected to increase dramatically if the initial costs of geothermal power generation are reduced. The technology developed by this project will be applicable to countries located in volcanic zones and will potentially lead such countries to shift their main electric power source from fossil fuels to geothermal energy. As a result, the project will contribute to low-carbon and sustainable society development.

Photo gallery

Geothermal manifestations around the Wayang Windu site. Working with instructors and graduate students at Bandung Institute of Technology to survey and analyze subsurface temperature, minerals, volcanic gas, and hydrothermal fluids.

Sampling and measuring subsurface temperature at a hydrothermal alteration zone. Generation temperature of the alternation zone is estimated from the mineral composition.