It is estimated that Indonesia controls about 40 percent of the world's total geothermal power reserves. However, Indonesia only uses a tiny fraction of this total potential. Currently, Southeast Asia's largest economy utilizes 11.0 percent of its existing geothermal reserves (estimated at 17,506 MW). Although still low, it is a much better figure than about five years ago (when the country used approximately 4 percent of its geothermal potential).

Additional geothermal capacity stems from the start of operations of the Plarah Karaha Unit 1 (30 MW) and the Sarulla Unit 3 (110 MW). In the remainder of 2018 the Sorik Marapi Modullar Unit 1 (20 MW), Sorik Marapi Marapi Modular Unit 2 (30 MW), Lumut Balai Unit 1 (55 MW) and Sokoria Unit 1 (5 MW) are expected to commence operations, thus adding more capacity to Indonesia's installed geothermal power generation capacity.

Rida Mulyana, Director General of Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (in Indonesian: Energi Baru, Terbarukan dan Konservasi Energi, or EBTKE), said he is optimistic that investment in renewable energy in Indonesia will rise to USD $2 billion in 2018, up from USD $1.34 billion in the preceding year. The 2018 target includes USD $1.21 billion worth of investment in geothermal power.

It is an ambitious target but by 2023 the Indonesian government targets to overtake the USA as the world's largest geothermal power producer. To accomplish this the government offers both fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to investors.

Top Geothermal Power Producing Nations:

Country Installed Capacity
           (MW)
United States            3,591
Indonesia            1,925
Philippines            1,868
Turkey            1,155
New Zealand             980
Mexico             951
Italy             944
World           14,276

Source: ThinkGeoEnergy

Bahas