BIREGI Digitalization: Bio Energy Reactor as an Energy Transition Innovation Supporting the ESG (Environmental Social & Governance) Concept

Innovation in the energy sector continues to be developed because dependence on fossil fuels must be reduced and switched to other alternative energy that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable. The latest shortcut comes from the Iridium Graphene Team led by Tiurma Fransiska Simanullang and her colleagues Jeni Laura Tesalonika and Putri Sekar Kinanti. The student team from the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology Study Program, Diponegoro University, who successfully advanced to the final round of the prestigious Innovation and Knowledge Management Summit (IKMS) Pertamina International Oil Refinery 2024. Their innovation, entitled BIREGI: Bio-Energy Reactor as Utilization of Organic Waste and Animal Waste with sensor digitalization with smartphones received high appreciation in the Energy Transition sub-theme.
Tiurma Fransiska Simanullang, familiarly called Tiur, said that in facing global challenges related to energy transition, the Diponegoro University team presented the BIREGI innovation that integrates the management of organic waste and animal waste into renewable energy. “This innovation focuses on the use of bio-reactors that utilize dark fermentation with the use of bacteria as natural catalysts for the fermentation process which then produces biogas as a sustainable and efficient energy source.” said Tiur.
This innovation is different from conventional methods, the BIREGI bio-reactor is designed with a sensor-based control system that allows real-time monitoring. This system optimizes the efficiency of the fermentation process by monitoring parameters such as pH, temperature, and pressure, resulting in maximum energy production while reducing carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, Putri Sekar Kinanti, often called Putri, informed that BIREGI not only offers solutions for the utilization of organic waste and animal waste, but also supports Indonesia’s vision in the transition to clean energy. With the technology developed, BIREGI has the potential to be applied to various sectors, including agriculture, animal husbandry, and the energy industry. In addition, this project also supports reducing dependence on fossil fuels and encourages the implementation of a circular economy. “We dedicate this project to support the national energy transition agenda and make a real contribution to realizing a sustainable energy system,”
The 2024 Pertamina International Oil Refinery IKMS Competition itself was attended by various leading universities and institutions in Indonesia. Through a series of strict selections that included evaluation of abstracts, proposals, presentations, and posters, the Diponegoro University team succeeded in showing the superiority of their ideas compared to hundreds of other participants. The Energy Transition sub-theme they chose is an important focus in the context of the global energy transition.
Mr. Endy Yulianto, S.T., M.T., as Head of the D4 Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology Study Program and Yusuf Marifat Fajar Azis S.T., M.T. both of whom together guided and played an important role by providing ongoing support for the Graphene Iridium team. Joint discussions have helped in the development and refinement of innovation. The innovations implemented are a depiction of technology and collaboration can produce solutions that have a positive impact in the future.