Professor of the Department of Electrical Engineering, ITS Prof Dr Eng Rony Seto Wibowo ST MT, while delivering his scientific oration at his inauguration procession as an ITS Professor

ITS Campus, ITS News — The transition to new renewable energy (EBT) faces various challenges due to its high cost, supply uncertainty, and the reliability of the power generation system. Responding to these challenges, the 221st Professor of Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Prof Dr Eng Rony Seto Wibowo ST MT, studied optimization systems to improve the efficiency and reliability of EBT-based electricity systems.

In his scientific oration entitled Escorting the Energy Transition with Optimization, Rony emphasized that power system optimization is key in achieving Net Zero Emission (NZE). This step is in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) point seven on clean and affordable energy and point 13 on handling climate change. “This effort ensures that the energy transition runs more effectively without sacrificing the reliability of the electricity supply,” he said.

Through his research, Rony developed a new method in the allocation and coordination of Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) control for EBT-based power systems. As a power electronics-based technology, FACTS plays a role in regulating the flow of electricity and maintaining system stability, especially in networks that rely on EBT with intermittent characteristics. “This approach is superior because it reduces the annual operational cost of the power system,” he added.

Prof Dr Eng Rony Seto Wibowo ST MT in the field researching optimization methods for microgrids based on renewable energy

To ensure long-term effectiveness, the ITS Electrical Engineering Department lecturer integrated fault probability analysis and load scenario simulation in FACTS operation. With this strategy, FACTS can adapt to power fluctuations from renewable energy plants, thereby improving overall system reliability.

In addition to FACTS, Rony also researched optimization methods for microgrids, small-scale electricity systems that can operate independently based on renewable energy and batteries as energy storage. He developed the Dynamic Economic Dispatch (DED) method to determine the optimal power to be generated by each plant to meet electricity demand at the lowest possible cost.

This method is integrated with Quadratic Programming (QP) to find the best solution for power allocation in microgrids. Rony tested various scenarios to analyze the effect of weather conditions and battery usage on the total cost of electricity generation. The results show that weather factors greatly affect renewable energy generation, as it depends on solar radiation, temperature, and wind speed.

Furthermore, the study proved that the use of batteries as backup energy can significantly reduce operational costs. “Instead of relying on diesel generators that still depend on fossil fuels, the use of batteries can be more efficient and environmentally friendly,” Rony explained.

This research is part of Rony’s contribution as an ITS professor in supporting the development of clean energy in Indonesia. He hopes that the innovations he presents can help streamline the national energy transition process towards NZE. “With the application of proper optimization, EBT-based power systems can be more competitive,” he concluded. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Naurah Fitri
Translator: Lael Soebakir