Heaptalk, Jakarta — To advance the geothermal industry, Nalco Water, a company under Ecolab, hosted the annual Neo for Geo seminar, which adopted the theme ‘Geothermal process excellence for achieving better system efficiency.”
The seminar aims to promote understanding and adoption of advanced technology in the geothermal industry in Southeast Asia. Indonesia holds the largest geothermal potential in the world, estimated at 24 gigawatts (GW), but only about 10% of this capacity is currently utilized. Innovative technology development is necessary to optimize this vast potential to maximize environmentally friendly geothermal energy use.
“This seminar emphasizes the importance of holistic solutions and collaboration to drive more affordable and sustainable growth in geothermal power generation. The technologies and processes presented include the latest water management and cooling systems designed to help reduce water consumption by up to 30%, lower carbon emissions, and extend the operational life of geothermal equipment,” stated Nalco Water (07/29).
The Indonesian Geothermal Association (API-Inaga) appreciates Nalco Water’s contribution to advancing geothermal technology. According to Riza Pasikki, General Secretary of Inaga, addressing industry challenges from upstream risks during exploration to the utilization phase is crucial. Inaga aims to share insights on the current state of geothermal energy and discuss ways to make it more impactful.
With a target of adding 3,000 MW by 2030, Riza said that Indonesia must add 500 MW yearly. Although there are risks from such aggressive development, developing low-medium enthalpy geothermal resources in Indonesia is necessary. This effort requires support from technology companies like Ecolab for effective management.
Riza said, “We appreciate the government’s efforts but recognize the need for better collaboration and resources from all stakeholders to achieve renewable energy goals. Continuous advocacy and supply chain enhancement are essential, and we hope Ecolab can support the provision of local content (TKDN) as required by the government.”
Furthermore, Chandra Marimuthu, VP & GM of Heavy Industry at Ecolab Southeast Asia, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the growth of the geothermal industry in Southeast Asia. “Encouraging collaboration, innovation, and growth in the geothermal industry is crucial to addressing climate change. We focus on helping our customers achieve sustainability goals and improve operational efficiency. Establishing a geothermal excellence center in Indonesia can serve as a hub for innovation, research, and collaboration to address industry challenges in Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines,” said Chandra.
