Mataram, University of Mataram – University of Mataram (Unram) hosted the 17th Chapter of Bioenergy Goes to Campus (BGTC) at Scientific Lecture Hall Unram on Wednesday (30/11). The event was organized by the Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE).

Rector of Unram, Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D., in his speech expressed his appreciation for the organizing of this event.

“We are grateful that we continue being given the spirit and strength to continue to serve the country and the nation, our gratitude today is also that we have a team that of course we will later hear the presentation, we will get a lot of input on how future energy,” said the Rector of Unram.

Prof. Bambang also talked about global warming and climate change.

“Lately, we have felt climate change where there is a seasonal shift, the rainy season shifts in certain areas characterized by increased rain intensity and there are also areas with reduced rain intensity. Sometimes we experience rain in August and sometimes in September. When we were kids, it usually rained in October, rarely did we experience rain in July, August or September. We then ask what causes the climate change, the storms, the strong winds that we feel today. This is all caused by global warming,” said Prof. Bambang.

Prof. Bambang further explained that there are at least three gases commonly called greenhouse gasses, namely carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrogen dioxide (N2O) which contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide is produced by burning vehicles and factories, which then escape into the atmosphere and envelop the earth. Methane gas is produced by burning garbage, using fertilizers and some come from livestock. These gases will collect in the atmosphere and when sunlight penetrates the earth’s atmosphere and heats the earth, then the heat accumulated due to the entry of sunlight will be reflected out and leave the atmosphere. In the presence of greenhouse gasses, the heat is retained and reflected back to the earth, which is what we call the greenhouse phenomenon.

Global warming causes climate change. An increase in temperature leads to an increase in pressure difference. This increase in pressure difference causes strong winds. Increased temperature changes also lead to increased evaporation, causing rain to fall more heavily. These are the causes of the current climate change.

In addition, Prof. Bambang shared some of his experiences while living in New Zealand.

“Talking about renewable energy, one of them is bioenergy. Renewable energy is energy that comes from wind energy, solar energy, water energy, and also biomass energy (bioenergy). I lived in New Zealand for a long time, there are a lot of wind farms there, because the wind speed in New Zealand is relatively higher compared to Indonesia because it is close to the south pole. There is also hydroelectricity, one of which is in the Waikato river which is the longest river in New Zealand repeatedly dammed with a total of 9 hydro stations that produce about 10% of electricity in New Zealand from water energy,” he explained.

Prof. Bambang further explained that bioenergy is actually an effort to reduce greenhouse gasses that envelop the atmosphere, which can be done by planting trees. The photosynthesis process changes water and carbon dioxide compounds with the help of sunlight to be converted into glucose and oxygen compounds, into biomass and into bioenergy. Bioenergy is encouraged with the aim of reducing CO2 so as to reduce greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Besides being utilized as biofuel, bioenergy can be converted into biochar. Biochar is a carbon-enriched biomaterial produced by burning biomass through a process called pyrolysis. Pyrolysis produces products in the form of solid fuel, including liquid carbon, liquid in the form of tar mixture and several other substances, and will produce citrate which is difficult to decompose into CO2 when in the form of biochar. The concept is one of climate change mitigation, reducing the impact of global warming, and utilizing bioenergy.

“Unram has a project called Unram beef, special Bali beef. This project has produced high-quality meat that can replace imported meat from Australia and New Zealand. This meat comes from Balinese cattle fed with lamtoro tarramba. Lamtoro tarramba produces leaves with a protein content of up to 25%, then the biomass produced from the stems, for example, can be used as a coal mixing material that already has a factory in the PLTU Jeranjang and in Sumbawa. This can be a solution to supply bioenergy for the PLTU Jeranjang and a solution to improve the welfare of our breeders and farmers. We also have buildings with flat peaks that we have submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to be utilized for solar panel installations, so that Unram can save 1/5 of its total electricity needs and at the same time can be used as a place to learn about the management of solar energy into electrical energy, become an example of implementing solar electricity while encouraging the government, “he said.

Prof. Bambang expressed his hope that Unram can always be an example as a place to develop the latest and useful technology that can be given to the nation and state. Unram also continues to encourage engineering faculty lecturers to create deep well pumps that can be applied on dry land so that it can grow existing marginal land that can be planted two to three times a year. Prof. Bambang hopes that his speech can inspire students to continue to explore science and technology, find new innovations and apply knowledge so that they can continue to contribute to the development of society towards a just and prosperous society based on Pancasila.

Edi Wibowo, S.T., M.T. as Director of Bioenergy at the Directorate General of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation (EBTKE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) in his speech expressed his appreciation to Unram for the establishment of good cooperation, so that the BGTC chapter-17 activities can be carried out well and as part of the framework of insemination and information related to regulatory programs and implementation of bioenergy development in Indonesia to stakeholders, especially the academic community.

Edi said that BGTC is a form of synergy between EBTKE and the academic community in terms of developing new and renewable energy.

“BGTC is a form of synergy for the implementation of program policies to the academic community which is expected to become an educational forum in the development of new renewable energy, especially in the bioenergy sector. We also hope that this will also be a form of support for the academic community in the implementation of the development of the bioenergy industry and the creation of professional human resources and the creation of sustainable innovation and research,” he said.

Edi further explained that climate change is a global challenge faced by mankind, increasing greenhouse emissions, human dependence on fossil fuel sources has caused adverse effects on the environment. In an effort to overcome climate change, renewable energy emerged as a solution. Efforts to use renewable energy in Indonesia support energy security and energy independence amidst high domestic energy consumption from unsustainable energy sources. Energy transition through the use of new renewable energy is one of the national priority programs.

“The utilization and development of renewable energy in the bioenergy sector is one part of the government’s focus. We know that bioenergy is one of the renewable energies that is rather specific when compared to other renewable energies such as water energy, solar which is very dependent on natural conditions. Water energy depends on the season, solar energy depends on sunlight, while bioenergy depends on us. If it can be cultivated, it will be sustainable forever. There are several types of bioenergy, namely biofuels in the form of biodiesel, bioethanol and bio-oil and later speakers from APROBI will discuss biodiesel. The government also continues to encourage the implementation of the Cofiring Program in electricity planning for coal-fired power plants,” he explained.

Edi said that the development of bioenergy is our shared commitment for a better and sustainable future. The Indonesian government realizes that the implementation of each program must face challenges, the issues faced are the sustainability of raw materials, technology, availability of funding, infrastructure, and resource competence. BGTC is a forum for ESDM preparation as an effort to build university awareness for future sustainability development.

EBTKE encourages all existing elements, both the central government, local governments, institutions, business entities, related stakeholders, the media and also the academic community to support the development of new and renewable energy, together to find solutions and be able to answer future challenges, especially to Unram, ideas and innovations for developing new and renewable energy can emerge. Great appreciation is expressed for the establishment of good relations with the academic community and other stakeholders involved in the development and strengthening of bio energy.

Bioenergy Goes to Campus Chapter-17 presented five keynote speakers, including Trois Dilisusendi, S.T., M.T.. Associate Expert Policy Analyst as Coordinator of Bioenergy Investment and Cooperation with material on Bioenergy Development Policy in Indonesia; Tri Rachmanto, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. as Head of Unram’s Computer and Simulation Laboratory with material on Bioethanol from Sweet Sorghum as a Future Alternative Energy Source; Rahayu Dwi Mampuni, S.Kom as Secretariat of the Indonesian Biofuel Producers Association (APROBI) with material on the Potential and Implementation of Biodiesel Development in Indonesia; Janter Naibaho as Technician Bioenergy PT. PLN (Persero) with material on the Implementation of Bioenergy-Based Power Plant Development and Cofiring Program at PLN; Dr. Ichsan as General Manager of Renewable Energy PT. KALTIMEX ENERGY with material on the Development of Compressed Biomethane Gas (CBG) from Corn Cobs in NTB; and acted as moderator, Hendry Sakke Tira, ST.., MT., Ph.D. Head of the New and Renewable Energy Laboratory, Faculty of Engineering Unram.