Energy Choice to Support Carbon Dioxide Reduction in Indonesia

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase, and economic and population growth continue to be the most important drivers of these increased emissions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) uses two assessment models that indicate biomass should be a top primary energy source in 2095, while climate change will tend to amplify tree mortality worldwide. The burning of biomass in the twenty-first century will greatly exacerbate global warming and its consequences. This chapter describes the depletion of fossil fuels in Indonesia: oil will vanish within 12.8 years, natural gas within 30.8 years, and good quality coal within 59.8 years. The shrinking energy resources are impacting national energy security. If low-rank coal is burnt for coal-fired power plants, this will affect all efforts to fulfill promises to reduce CO₂ emissions. Nuclear power is proposed as one of the solutions. Government Regulation 79/2014 on the national energy policy is briefly described. The choice is to take or not take this solution. Another choice is to facilitate technology transfer and engage in international collaboration in nuclear power technology.

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