The US-based non-profit organisation Project InnerSpace has announced a partnership with the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), an energy think tank based in Jakarta, to stimulate geothermal energy development in Indonesia. The initiative is based on a series of multi-stakeholder consultations held in the capital, attended by industrial, academic and institutional representatives.
Objective: unlock massive energy potential
According to initial analysis from Project InnerSpace’s GeoMap™ system, the Indonesian archipelago has an estimated total geothermal potential of around 3,000 GW. Nearly 20 GW of this could be accessed at a levelised cost of electricity below $150 per megawatt-hour, equivalent to approximately half of the country’s current energy demand. The study also identifies significant opportunities for direct-use heat.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) ranks Indonesia as the world’s second-largest producer of geothermal electricity. Between 2013 and 2023, the country added more than 1 GW of net geothermal capacity to its energy mix. While several large-scale projects are underway, investment barriers and regulatory uncertainties continue to slow broader ambitions.
Strategic report due in the autumn
The Project InnerSpace–IESR partnership plans to publish a technical report titled The Future of Geothermal in Indonesia, scheduled for release in autumn 2025. It will be available in both English and Bahasa Indonesia. The report aims to offer practical recommendations to remove financial barriers, adapt public policies and strengthen collaboration between industrial and scientific stakeholders.
Contributors to the report include Universitas Gadjah Mada, Enerka, the Purnomo Yusgiantoro Center and Universitas Brawijaya. The publication will address both power generation and thermal applications of geothermal energy, integrating various exploration and exploitation technologies.
Towards stronger collaboration between local and international experts
Fabby Tumiwa, Executive Director of IESR, stated: “Indonesia has always viewed geothermal as a cornerstone of its energy strategy. This partnership with Project InnerSpace enables us to move a step closer to effective resource utilisation.”
Jamie Beard, Executive Director of Project InnerSpace, added: “By bringing together Indonesia’s key geothermal players, we aim to accelerate timelines and transform reserves into real projects.”
