Understanding Knowledge, Perception, and acceptance of geothermal energy among Indonesian Students: Implications for sustainable renewable energy initiatives

Indonesia has several renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal energy is one of abundant potential due to the country’s location in Ring of Fire. However, the utilization ratio of geothermal energy is limited due to several resistances. Research aimed to investigate knowledge, acceptance, and perception among Indonesian students to provide comprehensive understanding of geothermal energy development. A comprehensive mixed methods were used, combining both quantitative and qualitative, with 334 student participants from 23 vocational high schools using Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling. Questionnaires have been developed by experts and rigorously tested using SPSS Software. The results showed that vocational students showed statistically high levels of knowledge and perception concerning geothermal energy, at 58% and 59%, respectively. Furthermore, 52.7% and 25.7% of participants showed high and very high acceptance levels, respectively. However, statistical analysis showed low correlation between knowledge and perception to acceptance levels. In the interviews, although Indonesian students widely recognized and acknowledged geothermal energy for electricity production, their awareness of local energy sources was significantly lower. This research provides important recommendations for government and stakeholders in shaping future geothermal energy development, emphasizing the essential role of these students in long-term sustainability of renewable energy in Indonesia.