Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia

Darajat Geothermal Power Station

 Sustainable Energy 

 Geothermal 

5 minutes read

History of Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is located in the Garut district of West Java, Indonesia. The power station is one of the oldest and largest geothermal power plants in Indonesia.

The development of the Darajat geothermal field began in the early 1980s by the Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company, Pertamina. Exploration drilling began in 1982 and commercial production started in 1994.

The first unit of the Darajat power plant, with a capacity of 55 MW, was commissioned in 1994. The second unit, with a capacity of 55 MW, was commissioned in 1999. In 2004, a third unit with a capacity of 55 MW was added to the power plant, bringing the total capacity to 165 MW.

In 2007, Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), a subsidiary of Pertamina, took over the operation of the power plant. PGE expanded the power plant's capacity to 270 MW by adding a fourth unit with a capacity of 105 MW in 2016.

The Darajat power plant is known for its innovative technology and engineering solutions. The power plant utilizes a binary cycle technology, which is considered to be more efficient than other geothermal technologies. The binary cycle technology uses a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the geothermal fluid to a working fluid, which drives a turbine to produce electricity.

The Darajat power plant has been recognized as a sustainable energy project and has won several awards. In 2008, it won the "Asia Power Project of the Year" award at the Asian Power Awards. In 2011, it received the "Energy Globe Award" for its contribution to reducing CO2 emissions.

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station has played a significant role in meeting Indonesia's growing energy demand while also reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.


Demography of Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is a power generation facility located in the Garut district of West Java, Indonesia. As such, it does not have a permanent population associated with it. However, the plant is staffed by a team of employees who work on-site.

The workforce at the Darajat power plant is primarily made up of engineers, technicians, and support staff who work to maintain and operate the power generation equipment. The employees of the power plant are typically trained in the fields of engineering, mechanics, and related technical areas.

The Garut district, where the Darajat power plant is located, has a population of around 2.5 million people, according to the latest available data from the Indonesian government. The population of the district is predominantly rural, with agriculture being the main source of employment.

The Garut district is part of the larger West Java province, which has a population of over 48 million people. The province is one of the most populous in Indonesia and is home to several major cities, including Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia.

In terms of demographics, West Java has a diverse population that includes ethnic Javanese, Sundanese, and Chinese, among others. The primary religion in the province is Islam, followed by Christianity and Hinduism.

While the Darajat power plant does not have a significant permanent population associated with it, it is an important part of the economy of the Garut district and the wider West Java province. The plant provides employment opportunities and contributes to meeting the energy needs of the region.


Development of  Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia

The development of the Darajat Geothermal Power Station began in the early 1990s when Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), a subsidiary of the Indonesian state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, conducted exploration drilling in the Darajat geothermal field in West Java. The drilling confirmed the presence of a significant geothermal resource with the potential to generate electricity.

In 1994, PGE signed a power purchase agreement with the state-owned electricity company PLN to sell electricity generated from the Darajat power plant to the Java-Bali grid. In the same year, PGE began construction of the first phase of the power plant, which had a capacity of 110 MW.

The construction of the first phase was completed in 1999, and the power plant began commercial operation in the same year. In 2006, PGE completed the second phase of the power plant, adding another 110 MW of capacity and bringing the total capacity of the Darajat Geothermal Power Station to 220 MW.

Since its completion, the Darajat Geothermal Power Station has played an important role in Indonesia's renewable energy sector, providing a reliable source of electricity to the densely populated regions of Java and Bali. It has also helped to reduce Indonesia's dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the impacts of climate change.


Profile of Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is a large power generation facility located in the Garut district of West Java, Indonesia. 

Here's a profile of the power station:

AttributeValue
LocationGarut district, West Java, Indonesia
OperatorPertamina Geothermal Energy
Commissioned1994 (first unit)
Total capacity270 MW (four units)
TechnologyBinary cycle
Primary energy sourceGeothermal
Number of units4
Awards and recognitionAsia Power Project of the Year, Energy Globe Award
EmployeesEngineers, technicians, support staff
Ownership100% owned by Pertamina Geothermal Energy
Market servedJava-Bali power grid
Environmental impactLow
Economic impactProvides employment opportunities, contributes to local a nd national economy
Future plansNo publicly announced plans for significant expansions or upgrades
Resource potentialEstimated to have a geothermal resource potential of 1,200 MW
Expansion potentialPossible expansion to 400 MW, subject to additional exploration and drilling
Community engagementSupports education and healthcare programs in local communities
Environmental programsImplements environmental management systems and engages in reforestation and conservation efforts
Export potentialSells excess power to state-owned electricity company PLN for export to Singapore and Malaysia

Location: Garut district, West Java, Indonesia

Operator: Pertamina Geothermal Energy

Commissioned: 1994 (first unit)

Total capacity: 270 MW (four units)

Technology: Binary cycle

Primary energy source: Geothermal

Number of units: 4

Awards and recognition: Asia Power Project of the Year, Energy Globe Award

Employees: Engineers, technicians, support staff

Ownership: 100% owned by Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of Pertamina

Market served: Java-Bali power grid

Environmental impact: As a geothermal power plant, Darajat has a relatively low environmental impact compared to traditional fossil fuel power plants. It produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and has a small land footprint. However, geothermal exploration and drilling can have some environmental impact on the surrounding areas.

Economic impact: The Darajat power plant provides employment opportunities and contributes to the local and national economy. It also helps to reduce Indonesia's dependence on imported fossil fuels.

Future plans: There are currently no publicly announced plans for significant expansions or upgrades to the Darajat power plant, but Pertamina Geothermal Energy is actively exploring new geothermal resources in Indonesia and developing new projects.

Here is the contact information for the Darajat Geothermal Power Station in Indonesia:

Operator:Pertamina Geothermal Energy

Address : Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No. 1A Jakarta 10110, Indonesia

Phone: +62 21 380 5511

Email: pge@pertamina.com

Plant Site: : Darajat Geothermal Power Plant,Sukawangi, Darajat, Garut, West Java, Indonesia


Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia - Operator and Technology

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station in Indonesia is operated by Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of Pertamina, which is the state-owned oil and gas company of Indonesia. Pertamina Geothermal Energy is responsible for the exploration, development, and operation of geothermal power plants in Indonesia, including the Darajat facility.

The technology used at the Darajat Geothermal Power Station is binary cycle. In a binary cycle power plant, hot water and steam from the geothermal reservoir are used to heat a working fluid, which has a lower boiling point than water, such as isobutane or pentane. The working fluid vaporizes and drives a turbine, which generates electricity. After passing through the turbine, the vaporized working fluid is condensed back into a liquid and the cycle begins again. Binary cycle technology is efficient, reliable, and has a relatively low environmental impact.


Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia - Financial and International Investment

There has been significant financial and international investment in the development and operation of the Darajat Geothermal Power Station in Indonesia.

The construction of the power plant was partly financed by a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), a government-owned financial institution that provides development finance for projects in developing countries. The loan was used to finance the construction of the first two units of the power plant, which were commissioned in 1994.

In 2012, Pertamina Geothermal Energy secured a loan of $350 million from a consortium of international banks to finance the expansion of the Darajat Geothermal Power Station from 220 MW to 270 MW. The expansion involved the construction of two additional units at the power plant, which were commissioned in 2015.

In addition to financial investment, the Darajat Geothermal Power Station has also received international technical assistance and expertise. The development of the power plant was supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which provided funding and technical assistance for the exploration and assessment of the geothermal resource.

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is seen as an important project for Indonesia's renewable energy sector and has attracted significant interest from international investors and development agencies. The power plant is part of Indonesia's efforts to increase its share of renewable energy in the country's energy mix and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.


Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia - Energy Diversity Contribution

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station in Indonesia plays an important role in contributing to energy diversity in the country's energy mix. The power plant is part of Indonesia's efforts to increase its share of renewable energy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for electricity generation.

Indonesia has abundant geothermal resources, and geothermal power is considered a reliable and sustainable source of renewable energy. The Darajat Geothermal Power Station currently has a total capacity of 270 MW, which is a significant contribution to Indonesia's overall geothermal power generation capacity.

The power plant is connected to the Java-Bali power grid, which supplies electricity to the most populous regions of Indonesia. By generating electricity from geothermal energy, the Darajat power plant helps to diversify the sources of electricity in the Java-Bali power grid, which has traditionally relied heavily on coal-fired power plants.

Furthermore, by relying on geothermal energy instead of fossil fuels, the Darajat power plant helps to reduce Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change. This makes the power plant an important part of Indonesia's efforts to transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy future.


Conclusion for Darajat Geothermal Power Station, Indonesia Overview

Darajat Geothermal Power Station is an important example of Indonesia's efforts to increase its share of renewable energy and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. 

The power plant is operated by Pertamina Geothermal Energy and uses binary cycle technology to generate electricity from the geothermal resources located in the region.

The Darajat power plant has received significant financial and international investment, including loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and a consortium of international banks. It has also received technical assistance and expertise from the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility.

By generating electricity from geothermal energy, the Darajat power plant helps to diversify Indonesia's sources of electricity and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in the densely populated regions of Java and Bali. It also helps to reduce Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

The Darajat Geothermal Power Station is an important project for Indonesia's renewable energy sector and an example of how geothermal energy can contribute to a more sustainable and low-carbon energy future.