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Jakarta, Indonesia — Two freshmen of President University won the runner up position in “Pertamina Ide Gila Energy Competition 2017” that was announced at Gedung Sarinah Ekosistem, Jakarta (29/4). Annisa Nur Wahyuni (Mechanical Engineering 2016) and Hiqmatus Solichah (Environmental Engineering 2016) won in the Business Idea Category and successfully defeated the other contestants coming from various backgrounds such as professors, lecturers, and many others.
This competition was about innovation of business idea, breakthrough products, and technologies on New and Renewable Energy that could bring positive impacts in the social and economy sector of Indonesia. The competition was divided into two categories: Product and Technology Breakthrough and Business Idea.
6,300 contestants presented 1,600 ideas in this prestigious competition. The winners of this competition will be awarded a total of IDR 500 million and will be presented a creative trip. After successfully placed in the top five, they are presenting their paper at the grand final session in front of the judges.
Annisa and Hiqmatus’ paper contains business innovation through Sludge Gasification Reactor (SGR) innovation that could create electricity from sludge B3 that was originally come from Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Jababeka. They are inspired by their Head of Study Programme, Temmy Wikaningrum (Head of Environmental Engineering Study Programme) who was former manager of WWTP Jababeka and Lydia Anggraeni (Head of Mechanical Engineering Programme).
Lydia said that the reason why the team brought the topic was to minimize the problem faced by many industries in Kawasan Industri Jababeka, which is sludge, in the hope to contribute a way out that could be implemented in each industry to produce new and renewable energy besides having economic value.
Furthermore, Temmy Wikaningrum said that the sludge produced by industries is classified dangerous and poisonous (B3 Sludge). It needs more than IDR 1 billion per year to proceed, not to mention the impact on the environment. This triggered the urge to search for solutions to reduce it with the right technology, economic feasibility, and create no negative impact to the environment. Moreover, it can be useful as a source of green energy, because the B3 sludge contain 60% organic matter (carbon source).
To compete in this competition, Annisa and Hiqmatus were given intensive guidance, went field survey to WWTP Jababeka, and produce self-designed prototype supported by the study programme.
“This idea still needs further research because the previous one is still in the laboratory scale. If the research is done, it will be implemented at WWTP Jababeka. We got so much knowledge specifically about innovative business that is come from new and renewable energy. We hope that this idea could be developed better than before and could be useful to tackle the danger of sludge B3 to the environment”, said Hiqmatus. (SL)
