When energy from petroleum, coal, and others begins to shrink, an alternative energy emerges which is expected to replace the role of energy derived from fossils.
Energy that is claimed to be alternative energy is geothermal energy. Yes, lately many parties have raised the issue of this energy as an alternative energy.
Geothermal Energy - Getting to Know Geothermal Alternative Energy
Geothermal energy is energy that comes from the heat energy contained in the earth. The heat energy in the earth comes from energy originating from the earth's tectonic activity.
Tectonic activity in the earth has occurred since the earth was created. In addition, the heat in the earth also comes from the sun's heat which is absorbed by the earth. This alternative energy also includes renewable energy or renewable energy.
Actually, geothermal energy has been known since ancient Roman times. At that time, this energy was used as energy to heat a room in winter or to heat water. However, over the times, energy from geothermal energy is used as a producer of electrical energy.
In 2007 alone, power plants that utilize this energy have been operating in the world. It is estimated that the power plant has a power of 10 Giga Watt.
Utilization of energy derived from geothermal energy has contributed 0.3% of the world's electricity needs. From an economic point of view, this alternative energy has economic value. But unfortunately, this energy only exists around the tectonic layer area and has not been utilized properly and optimally.
In this world, the largest geothermal resource is in the United States, precisely in California. The largest geothermal energy source is called The Geyser.
Meanwhile, five countries, namely Kenya, El Salvador, the Philippines, Costa Rica, and Iceland have utilized geothermal alternative energy to meet the electrical energy needs of each country by 15%.
Earth, where humans and other living things live, has a very hot core. It is estimated that the Earth's core has a temperature of 500 degrees Celsius, or about 9.932 Fahrenheit.
So, it is not surprising that the top 3 meter radius in the earth's surface layer has a constant temperature of 10-16 degrees Celsius. With the support of various geological processes, thermal energy originating from within the earth is formed.
Places on earth that contain geothermal heat have high temperatures. Therefore, this energy can be used as an alternative energy in today's modern times. On this earth, there are several places that contain alternative geothermal energy, especially in areas close to the earth's tectonic layers.
Geothermal Energy - Alternative Energy in Indonesia
The geographical location of Indonesia which is in the ring of fire location and the number of volcanoes in Indonesia, apart from having a negative impact, also has a positive impact.
The positive impact is that Indonesia contains a lot of geothermal resources. According to experts, the number of volcanoes in Indonesia, has made Indonesia have an alternative source of geothermal energy with a value of 28,000 Megawatts.
Really how big the value of thermal energy in Indonesia's earth. Geothermal locations in Indonesia are spread over 265 locations throughout Indonesia, from Sabang to Merauke.
Of the 28,000 Megawatts contained in alternative geothermal energy sources in Indonesia, only 1,189 Megawatts or about 4% have been utilized. The geothermal energy used is used to generate electricity.
The geothermal power plants are located in West Java (1057 MW), followed by Central Java (60 MW), North Sulawesi (60 MW), and North Sumatra (12 MW).
To develop this alternative energy, the Government of Indonesia has not been able to utilize it optimally. Therefore, the Government of Indonesia provides opportunities for the private sector to utilize and develop alternative energy derived from geothermal energy.
As a driving force for the development and utilization of geothermal energy, the Government of Indonesia issued regulations in the form of Law No. 27 of 2003 on geothermal and Government Regulation No. 59 of 2007 regarding geothermal business activities. Based on these two regulations, 22 Mining Working Areas have been established.
These Mining Working Areas are spread across Sumatra as many as 8 WKP, Java as many as 7 WKP, Sulawesi as many as 2 WKP, Nusa Tenggara as many as 3 WKP, and in Maluku as many as 2 WKP.
In addition to issuing regulations on the development and utilization of alternative geothermal energy, the Indonesian government is also drafting a program to complete the stipulation of the restructuring process of buying and selling from PLTP (Geothermal Power Plant). This is done to support the investment climate for this energy development.
In the future, the Government of Indonesia will further develop and utilize this energy as a source of national electricity. Plans for the development and utilization of geothermal alternative energy by constructing a power plant with a power of 10,000 Megawatts phase 2.
With the implementation of this program, it is expected that the utilization of geothermal energy can increase to 4,713 Megawatts or about 17% of the existing geothermal alternative energy potential by 2015. .
Today, the Government of Indonesia is currently developing geothermal energy field in the province of Lampung, precisely in Ulubelu. In the development process, 12 drilled wells have been successfully drilled with a steam potential of 80 Megawatts.
Apart from Lampung Province, the Government of Indonesia is also developing alternative geothermal energy in South Sumatra Province (Lumut Balai), Jambi Province (River Full), Bengkulu Province (Hululais), North Sulawesi Province (Kotamobagu), and West Java Province (Karaha). ).
Indonesia is the largest country in the world that has geothermal resources. It is estimated that 40% of the world's geothermal resources are in Indonesia. This makes Indonesia active in the world geothermal industry.
On April 25-30 2010, the World Geothermal Conference was held in Bali, Indonesia. This meeting was attended by more than 1,000 people who are in the geothermal business. This conference discusses business forum technology and increasing the capacity of Human Resources (HR).
Geothermal Energy - Benefits of Alternative
Energy Geothermal alternative energy has benefits that are not inferior to energy derived from fossils. In fact, geothermal energy is more environmentally friendly. In addition, geothermal alternative energy does not cause greenhouse gas emissions.
This geothermal energy has a noise level below that of fossil fuels. Meanwhile, power plants that utilize alternative geothermal energy are claimed to be able to produce greater electrical energy when compared to power plants that utilize other energy.
But unfortunately, the use of this energy as an alternative energy is not developed and utilized optimally. Many countries that have geothermal resources have not developed and utilized geothermal energy to its full potential.
This is thought to be because there has been no maximal follow-up in the utilization of this energy for the public interest.
That's an explanation of geothermal energy as an alternative energy future. Geothermal energy as an alternative energy has an important role in the availability of energy sources that will be used for the benefit and welfare of humans.
The alternative energy is an anticipation for energy that comes from fossils whose existence is dwindling, and even longer it may run out. This is because to be able to become energy materials, these fossils require a very long process.
Of course, there are many other alternative energies besides geothermal energy that can be explored and developed as an energy source. Hopefully this alternative energy can be developed and utilized optimally for the common good.