Geothermal Energy Powers Homes in Indonesia

Geothermal power will provide renewable energy for 700,000 new homes in Indonesia as US-based energy company Chevron begins commercial production at its Darajat III geothermal power plant this week.

The 110MW unit, located in Garut in West Java, increases the total combined output from the Darajat and Salak geothermal operations to 259MW – enough to produce sufficient renewable energy to supply approximately 3.9 million homes in Indonesia.

The Darajat III unit has been approved by the United Nations as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project, part of the UN's Kyoto Protocol to encourage implementation of cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions.

MD of Chevron's IndoAsia Business Unit Chris Prattini says: "Over the past 30 years, Chevron has been working with countries such as Indonesia to harness their geothermal resources to meet growing energy demand and sustainable development objectives."

Production from the Darajat III unit is operated by Chevron's subsidiary, Chevron Geothermal Indonesia.

Chevron operates four geothermal facilities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Geothermal energy uses the earth's natural resources to generate electricity - it is estimated that geothermal power supplies 0.416% of the world's energy.

Reported by Ozge Ibrahim