Geo Dipa launches eco-innovation project for community in Patuha geothermal site

Launch of integrated waste management facility with solar power and batteries in Patuha, West Java, Indonesia (source: PT Geo Dipa Energi)

PT Geo Dipa Energi (Persero) recently launched an eco-innovation program to address environmental challenges in the communities surrounding the Patuha Unit 1 geothermal power plant in West Java, Indonesia. The program underscored the company’s commitment to sustainability and community development that reflect its responsible approach to geothermal power operations.

The program focuses on improving the management of cow manure, a significant source of methane emissions and water pollution, within the “Karya Mandiri” livestock group at Alamendah Tourism Village. By leveraging solar panels and second-life batteries to power a rotary dryer, the initiative enhances manure processing, reducing methane emissions and preventing water contamination while increasing the production of organic fertilizer.

The eco-innovation program provides a sustainable solution for manure management by integrating renewable energy. Solar panels with an 8,000-W capacity generate power that is stored in second-life batteries and then used to operate a rotary dryer. This system enables more efficient drying of manure, capable of processing up to 4,200 kg every 14 days.

This not only mitigates environmental impact but also alleviates social conflicts caused by pollution, demonstrating a scalable model for integrating green energy into community-based waste management practices.

Following this, on September 9, a commemorative plaque was presented to celebrate the success of the CDM Carbon Credit partnership between PT Geo Dipa Energi and Ecosecurities. This partnership, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), successfully verified carbon credits for the 2014-2020 period from the Patuha Unit-1 Geothermal Power Plant.

PT Geo Dipa Energi had just recently celebrated the first decade of operations of the Patuha 1 geothermal power plant. The facility has contributed to a cumulative total of 4,602 GWh over its ten years of operation, and has demonstrated exceptional reliability, achieving an Availability Factor (AF) of 99.8% in 2023.