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Harnessing Indonesia's potential for geothermal energy


Indonesia, Gunung Salak
ClimatePartner ID: 1177
Geothermal energyGet to know the project

The project activity is comprised of a capacity upgrade of Gunung Salak Geothermal Power Plant from 3 x 55 MW to 3 x 60 MW. This is done by changing the turbine diaphragm and modifying the gas ejectors. The upgrade leads to an annual average of nearly 214 GWh of electricity to the connected JAMALI Grid. The supply of steam for the project, which is provided by the nearby Gunung Salak Geothermal fields is secured by an long-term Energy Sales contract. Indonesia is situated in the “Ring of Fire”, a global region with many volcanos. It’s great potential for geothermal energy resources are not yet fully exploited. The small proportion of the total energy mix is due to the high capital investment required for the development of geothermal energy utilization.

As geothermal power projects produce no end products in the form of solid waste (e.g. ash), they address the problem of solid waste disposal encountered by most other sources of power.

112,520 t CO₂Estimated annual emissions reductions
Project Standard
The project contributes to the the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals
How does geothermal energy help fight global warming?

Geothermal power plants create emission-free energy from ground heat. The ground heat is used to heat water, and the resulting steam is used to drive turbines. The growth of renewable energy production is essential in limiting global warming and securing energy supplies for the future. The amount of emissions saved by a geothermal project is calculated using the baseline method: how much CO2 would be released by generating the same amount of energy using standard energy production methods for the region? Geothermal energy projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.

The project aims to contribute to these United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project facts

Climate projects generally fall into one of three groups: carbon reduction, carbon removal, or carbon avoidance. Carbon reduction projects reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by a specific activity (e.g., improved cookstoves). Carbon removal projects remove carbon from the atmosphere by sequestering it in carbon sinks (e.g., reforestation). Carbon avoidance projects avoid greenhouse gas emissions entering the atmosphere (e.g., protecting forests from deforestation with REDD+ projects).

All climate projects are based on international standards. They set processes and requirements which carbon projects must fulfill to be recognised as a proven method of reducing carbon emissions.

Climate projects demonstrably reduce, remove, or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved with various technologies, ranging from nature-based solutions to social impact projects and renewable energies.

Climate projects go through third-party validation and verification. Verification happens regularly after each monitoring period. A validation and verification body checks and assesses whether the values and project activities stated in the monitoring report are correct and verifies them. As with validation, visits to the project site are often part of the process.

This figure shows the estimated annual emission reductions calculated before the project started. The actual number of emissions saved in each monitoring period may differ. The background to this process is that in order to be registered as a climate project, the project operator must submit the calculation of the estimated emissions savings using the ex-ante methodology in a Project Design Document (PDD), which is similar to a business plan. This calculation is validated by an independent auditor. The values determined in the PDD are recalculated during regular monitoring periods based on actual project performance, documented in a monitoring report, and verified again by independent auditors at the end of the monitoring period to ensure a robust process. Independent verification thus provides ex-post verification of actual emission reductions. Verified emission reductions are not distributed until the savings have actually been made.
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