ITS Campus, ITS News — The Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) is increasingly actively promoting renewable energy use by the community. This time, through the ITS Society of Renewable Energy (SRE), this concrete step was realized through a community service activity in Sawohan Village, Buduran District, Sidoarjo, on Saturday (May 2).
Patsya WKD, Non-Technical Manager of the Project Implementation Department at ITS SRE, stated that the livelihoods of Sawohan residents are currently dominated by the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and fisheries sectors. Specifically, the existing MSMEs are engaged in the fish cracker business. However, the weather-dependent production process often presents challenges. “Unpredictable weather makes business productivity unstable,” she said.
Responding to these challenges, SRE ITS presents a practical solution through a solar-powered fish cracker drying oven. SRE ITS Technical Manager for Project Implementation, Bagas Kurnia Paksi, explained that this environmentally friendly technology integrates the sun and solar panels to power the oven. “Through the solar absorber , sunlight is absorbed to heat the air in the chamber where the crackers are placed,” he explained .
Furthermore, the man known as Bagas revealed that the dryer’s heat absorption is maximized by using black pipes. The dark color allows for optimal light capture. Furthermore, the use of a 12- volt , 80- ampere-hour battery ensures the oven can operate in all weather conditions.
Supporting this breakthrough, Sawohan residents welcomed the initiative. The student from the ITS Department of Electrical Engineering also revealed that the residents’ enthusiasm was demonstrated by the enthusiasm of the MSMEs who attended the outreach. “They were very interested in what we presented and the equipment we installed,” he said.
Beyond focusing on technical aspects, this renewable energy activist organization also conducts educational outreach to local schoolchildren. Maarif Muhammad, Education Manager for the Campaign and Education SRE ITS Department, explained that the activities include waste sorting, math lessons, and book donations. “These activities provide fundamental education for elementary and middle school students before they are introduced to renewable energy,” he added.
Through this innovative breakthrough, ITS is further strengthening its efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The points achieved include point 7 on Clean and Affordable Energy and point 9 on Infrastructure, Industry, and Innovation. These innovations are expected to bring benefits to a sustainable community. (*)
Reporter: Jecklin Chintya Galle Djami
Redaktur: Putu Calista Arthanti Dewi
Translator: Devinka Mutianeira