The ITB Reporting Team had the opportunity to interview ITB student representatives who participated in this community service project on Wednesday (20/3/2024). The project involved two undergraduate students from ITB’s Electrical Power Engineering program, Prabowo, and Hebert Arthur Sigiro, as well as their supervising professor, Burhanuddin Halimi S.T., M.T., Ph.D.

The project engaged local village authorities from Bumi Harapan Village and Bukit Raya Village. They focused on creating an electrical system that uses renewable solar energy to power pumps that extract water from the ground, installing solar panels (PV Panels) with a capacity of 2,200 Wp.

The construction of the PLTS was carried out in several stages, beginning with the delivery of equipment and solar panels to the site on Tuesday (28/11/2023). The system installation took place in Bukit Raya Village over two days, followed by installation in Bumi Harapan Village, which took longer due to bad weather. However, by Saturday (2/12/2023), both PLTS had been successfully installed and their performance tested.

The motivation behind building the PLTS stemmed from the recognition of the need for clean water access in the remote areas of East Kalimantan. Previously, the community relied on rainwater collection, which was processed for daily needs. However, with regional development and population growth, water access became increasingly limited, prompting the need for a more sustainable solution.

Various challenges encountered during the PLTS construction included difficult access to the location, delays in equipment delivery, and adverse weather conditions that slowed down the installation process. However, with hard work and solid cooperation, all challenges were overcome.

The role of ITB students in this project was quite significant, from constructing the PLTS system to testing its performance after installation. Through this project, we not only provide direct benefits to the local community by offering clean water access but also educate about renewable energy and the management of PLTS systems, said Prabowo.

The benefits to the local community are substantial, both socially and economically. They now have access to clean water, which can significantly improve their daily quality of life. Moreover, with the availability of renewable energy, there is also potential to enhance economic income through the processing of clean water that can be sold to nearby residents.

To ensure the sustainability and maintenance of the PLTS after construction, ITB students conducted education sessions for local village managers and responsible parties. They provided insights into how the PLTS system works and urged regular maintenance to ensure the system operates effectively in the long term.

With the efforts made, the PLTS development project by ITB students and IKN Nusantara not only provides direct benefits to the local community but also serves as an example for future sustainable development efforts using renewable energy.

Reporter: Rayhan Adri Fulvian (Geophysical Engineering, 2021)
Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)
Editor: Firza