Performance Analysis of Synchronous Generators at Kamojang Geothermal Power Plant Unit 5 Based on Operational Parameters of Power, Current, and Voltage
Abstract
Geothermal energy is one of the potential and sustainable renewable energy sources in Indonesia. The efficiency of the generation system is one of the crucial aspects in optimizing the utilization of this energy. This study aims to analyze the performance of synchronous generators at the Kamojang Unit 5 Geothermal Power Plant based on power, current, and voltage parameters. The method used is a quantitative descriptive approach with field data collection for seven consecutive days in January 2025. The data observed include active power, apparent power, power factor, terminal voltage, phase current, and generator efficiency and current imbalance between phases. The results showed that the generator had high and stable daily efficiency with an average of 93.99%. The power factor was also classified as good, with an average of 91.23%. The highest phase current imbalance occurred in phase V with an average of 1.60%, but was still within the safe threshold according to IEEE standards. These findings indicate that the generation system at the Kamojang Unit 5 Geothermal Power Plant operates in an efficient and stable condition. This study also indicates the importance of monitoring operational parameters periodically as part of a maintenance strategy and increasing the reliability of geothermal power plants. With high efficiency and system stability, Kamojang Unit 5 Geothermal Power Plant can be a model for reliable and sustainable renewable energy power plant operation.
References
Ahsan, F., Dana, N. H., Sarker, S. K., Li, L., Muyeen, S. M., Ali, M. F., ... & Das, P. (2023). Data-driven next-generation smart grid towards sustainable energy evolution: techniques and technology review. Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems, 8(3), 1-42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41601-023-00319-5
Benabdeseelam, A., Messadi, M., Kemih, K., & Hamiche, H. (2025). Chattering-Free Terminal Sliding Mode Control Based on Adaptive Exponential Reaching Barrier Function for a chaotic permanent magnet synchronous generator in offshore wind turbine system. Chinese Physics B. https:// doi.org/10.1088/1674-1056/add248
Chen, W. H., Huang, T. H., Augusto, G. L., Lamba, R., Maduabuchi, C., & Saw, L. H. (2022). Power generation and thermal stress characterization of thermoelectric modules with different unileg couples by recovering vehicle waste heat. Journal of Cleaner Production, 375, 133987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.133987
Dipippo, R. (2012). Geothermal Power Plants: Principles, Applications, Case Studies and Environmental Impact (3rd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.
Elazim, S. M. A., Elkholy, M. H., Elgarhy, A., Senjyu, T., Gamil, M. M., Song, D., ... & Lotfy, M. E. (2025). Enhancing stability and power quality in electric vehicle charging stations powered by hybrid energy sources through harmonic mitigation and load management. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 28077. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14143-4
Fahmi, Y. (2025). Renewable energy development towards indonesia’s energy transition: Technological innovations for a sustainable future. Journal of Innovation Materials, Energy, and Sustainable Engineering, 2(2), 95-109. https://doi.org/10.61511/jimese.v2i2.2025.1488
Fauzia, A., & Makarim, M. N. (2024). Strategy of geothermal energy development as a renewable energy source in West Java Indonesia. Journal of Innovation Materials, Energy, and Sustainable Engineering, 2(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.61511/jimese.v2i1.2024.810
Grau Merconchini, F., Vázquez-Seisdedos, L., Cervantes Oliva, J., Núñez Alvarez, J. R., & CHECA CERVANTES, D. A. V. I. D. (2023). Study of electric power quality indicators by simulating a hybrid generation system. International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive Systems, 14(2), 1044-1054. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijpeds.v14.i2.pp1044-1054
Habibi, M., Yelishala, S. C., Zhu, Y., Tervo, E. J., Steiner, M. A., & Cui, L. (2025). Enhanced power density in zero-vacuum-gap thermophotovoltaic devices. Energy & Environmental Science, 18(3), 1514-1523. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ee04604h]
Hosseinzadeh, N., Aziz, A., Mahmud, A., Gargoom, A., & Rabbani, M. (2021). Voltage stability of power systems with renewable-energy inverter-based generators: A review. Electronics, 10(2), 115. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10020115
Idroes, G. M., Afjal, M., Khan, M., Haseeb, M., Hardi, I., Noviandy, T. R., & Idroes, R. (2024). Exploring the role of geothermal energy consumption in achieving carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability. Heliyon, 10(23). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40709
IEEE. (2010). IEEE Standard Definitions for the Measurement of Electric Power Quantities Under Sinusoidal, Nonsinusoidal, Balanced, or Unbalanced Conditions (IEEE Std 1459-2010).
IEEE. (2019). IEEE Recommended Practice for Monitoring Electric Power Quality (IEEE Std 1159-2019).
Kabeyi, M. J. B., & Olanrewaju, O. A. (2022). Sustainable energy transition for renewable and low carbon grid electricity generation and supply. Frontiers in Energy research, 9, 743114. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2021.743114
Liu, W., Kerekes, T., Dragicevic, T., & Teodorescu, R. (2023). Review of grid stability assessment based on AI and a new concept of converter-dominated power system state of stability assessment. IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Industrial Electronics, 4(3), 928-938. https://doi.org/10.1109/JESTIE.2023.3236885
Ma, K., Fang, L., & Kong, W. (2020). Review of distribution network phase unbalance: Scale, causes, consequences, solutions, and future research directions. CSEE Journal of Power and Energy systems, 6(3), 479-488.
Mseddi, A., Dhouib, B., Zdiri, M. A., Alaas, Z., Naifar, O., Guesmi, T., ... & Alqunun, K. (2024). Exploring the potential of hybrid excitation synchronous generators in wind energy: A comprehensive analysis and overview. Processes, 12(6), 1186.
Pamungkas, C., Mustar, Y., & Syahputra, R. (2017). Analisis Efisiensi Generator Sinkron pada PLTP Sarulla. Jurnal Teknologi dan Sistem Teknik Elektro, 6(1), 25–32.
Prasetiyo, A., Nugroho, R. A., & Bastian, A. A. (2023). Physical Condition of Athletes of the All Indonesian Athletics Association, Pesawaran Regency. JOURNAL RESPECS (Research Physical Education and Sports), 5(2), 399-405. https://doi.org/10.31949/respecs.v5i2.6026
Putri, Y. N. W., Riwajanti, N. I., & Eltivia, N. (2024). The System Design for Internship Administration and Pocket Money at PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy. Journal of Business and Management Review, 5(4), 268-284. https://doi.org/10.47153/jbmr54.9452024
Rashid, F., Mohamed, A. M. O., Paleologos, E. K., Li, B., Mosleh, M. H., Han, H., ... & Singh, D. N. (2025). SWOT analysis for geothermal energy extraction from legacy oil & gas wells–critical review. Environmental Geotechnics. https://doi.org/10.1680/jenge.24.00124
Rudiyanto, B., Birri, M. S., Avian, C., Kamal, D. M., & Hijriawan, M. (2023). A Genetic Algorithm approach for optimization of geothermal power plant production: Case studies of direct steam cycle in Kamojang. South African Journal of Chemical Engineering, 45, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2023.04.002
Rzayeva, S. V., Piriyeva, N. M., & Ismayilova, S. I. (2025). High and low voltage coordination in electrical power systems. International Journal on Technical and Physical Problems of Engineering (IJTPE), 17(1), 19-31.
Saputra, D. Y., & Sibarani, S. (2025). Geothermal power plant as a sustainable renewable energy alternative: Innovations and engineering solutions. Journal of Innovation Materials, Energy, and Sustainable Engineering, 2(2), 79-94. https://doi.org/10.61511/jimese.v2i2.2025.1489
Saxena, V., Kumar, N., & Nangia, U. (2024). Computation and Optimization of BESS in the Modeling of Renewable Energy Based Framework. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 31(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-023-10046-7
Stevenson, W. D., & Grainger, J. J. (1994). Power System Analysis (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Subagio, I. M. (2023). Fair legal protection for geothermal development companies that already have business licenses. International Journal of Social Service and Research (IJSSR), 3(7), 1748-1761.
Sufyana, C. M., Akbar, F. T., & Srigutomo, W. (2023). Thermal modeling and simulation of a single-flash geothermal power plant involving non-condensable gas: a case study of Kamojang geothermal field in Garut, West Java, Indonesia. Geothermal Energy, 11(1), 6.
Taherdoost, H. (2021). Data collection methods and tools for research; a step-by-step guide to choose data collection technique for academic and business research projects. International Journal of Academic Research in Management (IJARM), 10(1), 10-38.
Ukoba, K., Olatunji, K. O., Adeoye, E., Jen, T. C., & Madyira, D. M. (2024). Optimizing renewable energy systems through artificial intelligence: Review and future prospects. Energy & Environment, 35(7), 3833-3879. https://doi.org/10.1177/0958305X241256293
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal La Multiapp

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.



