ThinkGeoEnergy – Geothermal Energy News

Research and Education crucial for Indonesian geothermal development

The Head of the Geothermal Research Center of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia highlights the importance of local geothermal research and capacity building by her university for the development of Indonesia’s geothermal resources.

The potential of geothermal energy which is owned by Indonesia is quite large, reaching 20 thousand megawatts, said Pri Utami, a researcher from the University of Gadjah Mada in Yogyakarta.

“However, the potential of geothermal energy is not used optimally,” said Pri Utami the Head of Geothermal Research Center of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, this week. According to her, only a fraction of Indonesia’s vast geothermal resources has been utilised, including the utilisation for power generation and direct use in agriculture and fisheries.

“Geothermal is a clean energy that is safe for the environment, and energy development in Indonesia should have a focus on the development of clean energy that is safe for the environment while meeting national energy needs,” she said.

Therefore the role of UGM as a research university is important and needed. UGM focuses on educational efforts in the development of geothermal energy.

She said Indonesia and ASEAN countries has been an important partner, as has been New Zealand as geothermal development partner. UGM is also proud to have established a cooperation with the University of Auckland, New Zealand.

Pri Utami has received an award from the government of New Zealand for her work on the geothermal research, and her pioneering studies on geothermal energy.

Apart from these research activities, capacity building efforts particular for company staff of geothermal companies in Indonesia and the Western Pacific are an important focus of her work at UGM.

“In North Sulawesi, together with local government and local university, I led research on geothermal energy. In Lahendong and Tomohon together KKN UGM, we also established the park geothermal education,” he said.

Source: Warta Ekonomi

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