Monday, 20 June 2016
by adminstube
Utilizing Renewable Energy:

 

 

 

What Can We Do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our concern about the future of energy has answered by a training on Renewable Energy with a theme "Utilizing Renewable Energy: What Can We Do?". Although the training occurred in a short time, from 17 – 19 June 2016 at Wisma Salam, Magelang, it proved to ignite participants’ curiosity and awareness toward energy issues.

 

 

 

Leni, a student from Papua, majoring in accounting, said that in the beginning of training, she did not understand and confused what renewable energy is, but after joining the three days process, she realized that energy cannot be separated from human life and even everyone should understand and take action to this energy problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The importance of learning renewable energy

 

The first day, participants are invited to learn the importance of learning renewable energy. Executive Director of Stube-HEMAT, Ariani Narwastujati, S.Pd., S.S, M.Pd., provided an understanding of the basic concepts of global energy using mapping and electrification ratio. Renewable energy is the answer of equitable development, and the electricity needs in remote area could be supplied by renewable energy such as solar power, bio-gas, hydro power, wind and so on. In addition, beside the electrification ratio, the participants were introduced to a traditional energy source, such as briquettes, charcoals derived from organic wastes.

 

 

 

 

 

The magnet of renewable energy

 

In the second day, participants learned the history of the energy dependency of Indonesia presented by Silverio R.L. Aji Santoso, a History lecturer of Sanata Dharma University. "In fact, this topic has not been examined by Indonesian historia. Indonesia has been familiar with oil since the era of Sriwijaya.  Indonesia was in a heyday as an oil-exporter country before 1969, when Suharto opened foreign investors. The greedy drilling of energy sources allegedly accelerate the depletion of oil and gas reserves of Indonesia," he said.

 

 

 

"The renewable energy is not solely the domain of engineering students," said Irawan, from the Center for Energy Studies, Gadjah Mada University. "During this time proved that ordinary people in rural area were able to optimize the potency of renewable energy in their region. All sciences must work together in the Micro-hydro Power Plant (MHPP)", he explained further. He added, "If you want to build a renewable energy power plant, you must know the real potency of the region, do not make a conclusion based on one-day visit. As an example, there is a student that had a vacation to a beach and he stated that the wind is potential to produce electricity, without concerning the wind continuity in the long term". The session became more interesting because participants learn various types of power plants, functions and how to maintain the installations.

 

 

 

 

The training continued by visiting locations which implement renewable energy, such as Sukunan village and Micro-hydro Power Plant at Minggir. At Sukunan participants learn how to build biogas installation and make briquettes. Harto, the facilitator in Sukunan explained that it needed joint commitment among the villagers in order to establish an energy in-dependency village. It is rather hard to build an energy independence village in Indonesia, because we feel as a rich country and be spoiled by the nature provision.

 

 

 

In MHPP Minggir participants were invited to understand the performance of equipment from Japan. MHPP utilizes water irrigation to propel turbines. "This simple thing can be done in our villages but the expensive equipment and maintenance cause problem", said Darno, a field staff of MHPP Minggir.

 

Sharing session,

 

 

 

Ricky Ryawan PL, is an activist of Stube-HEMAT Yogyakarta who had worked in Palu steam power plant for three years, added the participants’ horizon about the current problem occurred both inside and outside of power plant company. Good management will bring positive effect to the field. He emphasized, "We, as young people, should have a high work ethic and the ability as a 'problem solver,' because many unexpected problems may arise any time, such as facing residents around the company that sometimes it is not easy".

 

 

 

What to Do?

 

After following the Sunday sermon, a session of analyzing energy policy was conveyed by Ahmad Rahma Wardhana (PSE UGM). He opened participants’ mind to understand the policy of renewable energy, such as the national electricity company (PLN) will pay for the electricity produced by citizens. The price of renewable energy power will be higher than the conventional one, also the imported equipment will encumber the capital and maintenance cost. What young people can do is influencing policy to be more pro renewable energy.

 

 

 

The follow-up session challenged participants to think and do something related with energy. Some participants are encouraged to share their knowledge gained from the training, making briquettes and energy-saving campaign for people’s daily life.

 

 

 

Hopefully, this tiny light enlighten heart and move hands to do something. Let us do simple actions! (SRB).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


  Share this post

Web Archive

 2024 (4)
 2023 (38)
 2022 (41)
 2021 (30)
 2020 (52)
 2019 (36)
 2018 (41)
 2017 (47)
 2016 (47)
 2015 (29)
 2014 (30)
 2013 (20)
 2012 (12)
 2011 (2)
 2010 (18)

Total: 447

Youtube Channel

Official Facebook