Summary/ Reader Response Draft 2- Clean Energy Transition
In the article, “How Can Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Transition Be Sped Up?” Ha (2019) wrote about energy experts addressing the important issue of clean energy transition in Southeast Asia. He mentioned Moniz, who is the Chief Executive of the Energy Futures and Nuclear Threat Initiative, talking about deploying “low-carbon technologies and solutions” for energy to lower emissions in the ASEAN region. Ha also said that Moniz mentioned nuclear fusion or hydrogen power as a substitute for solar and wind power in Singapore due to its lack of natural resources and land. In addition, it is also stated that Wong, Group Chief Executive of utility company Singapore Power, mentioned that Southeast Asia must consider both its consumption and production of energy. They should consider new energy sources and ways to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the same lifestyle to comply with the Paris Agreement. Ha stated that ASEAN should consider replacing the use of coal to produce energy as it produces the most greenhouse gases. Ha then mentioned that Moniz proposed to reduce costs in the power, industrial, and transportation sectors to be able to transition towards renewable energy. To play a part in lowering the emission in ASEAN regions, Indonesia should use clean energy such as geothermal energy.
Firstly, Indonesia has many volcanoes spread out across the country, which makes it a good form of geothermal energy. Richter (2021) mentioned Sentot, who is the Pertamina Geothermal Energy’s Government and Public Relations Manager, saying that Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) has helped to minimise millions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas by “operating geothermal power” facilities for nearly “five decades”. Furthermore, he stated that Sentot agreed about Indonesia’s geothermal development still being in its infancy compared to other countries such as “America, Italy, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland”. This shows that even though geothermal energy has helped to reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly, geothermal development in Indonesia still has a lot of potential to grow.
In addition, one of the advantages that was written in the article “Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - The Source of Renewable Heat” (2021) is that geothermal energy is an “exceptionally constant source of energy”. This suggests that it does not depend on the wind or sun, and it is available throughout the year. The first figure in the article illustrates the availability factor of renewable energy sources. When it comes to the availability factor, which indicates how reliable and consistent specific energy sources are, geothermal energy tops the list. This shows the independence of geothermal energy from external factors when supplying electricity. The article also mentioned that “geothermal heat pump systems use 25% to 50% less electricity for heating and cooling than traditional systems” and their “flexible design” allows them to be adjusted to various scenarios while using less hardware space than traditional systems. This shows that geothermal energy not only reduces CO2 emissions, it is also dependable and highly effective.
However, there are disadvantages to using geothermal energy. According to “Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - The Source of Renewable Heat” (2021), it was written that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are released when geothermal energy is extracted from the ground. Nevertheless, it was stated in the article that the amount of greenhouse gas released from extracting geothermal energy is substantially lower as compared to fossil fuels.
In conclusion, regardless of the disadvantages that geothermal energy or the system has, I believe that Indonesia should use more geothermal energy compared to the current fossil fuel that they are using. I think that the current geothermal energy in Indonesia is not enough to provide enough energy for Indonesia’s population. It is also not enough to meet the energy demand in Indonesia. Geothermal energy still has the potential for room to grow. Thus, Indonesia should use geothermal energy as it is renewable energy and it will benefit in lowering the carbon emissions in ASEAN regions.
Firstly, Indonesia has many volcanoes spread out across the country, which makes it a good form of geothermal energy. Richter (2021) mentioned Sentot, who is the Pertamina Geothermal Energy’s Government and Public Relations Manager, saying that Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) has helped to minimise millions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas by “operating geothermal power” facilities for nearly “five decades”. Furthermore, he stated that Sentot agreed about Indonesia’s geothermal development still being in its infancy compared to other countries such as “America, Italy, New Zealand, Japan, Iceland”. This shows that even though geothermal energy has helped to reduce carbon dioxide emissions significantly, geothermal development in Indonesia still has a lot of potential to grow.
In addition, one of the advantages that was written in the article “Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - The Source of Renewable Heat” (2021) is that geothermal energy is an “exceptionally constant source of energy”. This suggests that it does not depend on the wind or sun, and it is available throughout the year. The first figure in the article illustrates the availability factor of renewable energy sources. When it comes to the availability factor, which indicates how reliable and consistent specific energy sources are, geothermal energy tops the list. This shows the independence of geothermal energy from external factors when supplying electricity. The article also mentioned that “geothermal heat pump systems use 25% to 50% less electricity for heating and cooling than traditional systems” and their “flexible design” allows them to be adjusted to various scenarios while using less hardware space than traditional systems. This shows that geothermal energy not only reduces CO2 emissions, it is also dependable and highly effective.
However, there are disadvantages to using geothermal energy. According to “Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - The Source of Renewable Heat” (2021), it was written that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are released when geothermal energy is extracted from the ground. Nevertheless, it was stated in the article that the amount of greenhouse gas released from extracting geothermal energy is substantially lower as compared to fossil fuels.
In conclusion, regardless of the disadvantages that geothermal energy or the system has, I believe that Indonesia should use more geothermal energy compared to the current fossil fuel that they are using. I think that the current geothermal energy in Indonesia is not enough to provide enough energy for Indonesia’s population. It is also not enough to meet the energy demand in Indonesia. Geothermal energy still has the potential for room to grow. Thus, Indonesia should use geothermal energy as it is renewable energy and it will benefit in lowering the carbon emissions in ASEAN regions.
(655 words)
References:
Ha, T. (2019, July 19). How can Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Transition be sped up?Eco-Business https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/
Richter, A. (2021, August 11). Benefits of geothermal to Indonesia beyond green electricity. Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News; ThinkGeoEnergy. https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/benefits-of-geothermal-to-indonesia-beyond-green-electricity/
Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - The Source of Renewable Heat. (2021, September 8). Greenmatch.co.uk. https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/04/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-geothermal-energy
References:
Ha, T. (2019, July 19). How can Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Transition be sped up?Eco-Business https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/
Richter, A. (2021, August 11). Benefits of geothermal to Indonesia beyond green electricity. Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News; ThinkGeoEnergy. https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/benefits-of-geothermal-to-indonesia-beyond-green-electricity/
Advantages and Disadvantages of Geothermal Energy - The Source of Renewable Heat. (2021, September 8). Greenmatch.co.uk. https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2014/04/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-geothermal-energy
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