Innovation in the energy sector continues to be developed because reliance on fossil fuels must be reduced and shifted toward other alternative energy sources that are 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. A student team from the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology Study Program at Diponegoro University successfully advanced to the final round of the prestigious Innovation and Knowledge Management Summit (IKMS) Pertamina International Oil Refinery 2024. Their innovation, titled BIREGI: Bio-Reactor Energy for Utilizing Organic Waste and Animal Manure with Sensor Digitalization using Smartphones, received high praise in the Energy Transition subtheme.
Tiurma Fransiska Simanullang, affectionately known as Tiur, stated that in the face of global challenges related to energy transition, the Diponegoro University team presented the BIREGI innovation, which integrates the management of organic waste and animal manure into renewable energy. “This innovation focuses on using a bioreactor that utilizes dark fermentation with bacteria as a natural catalyst for the fermentation process, which then produces biogas as a sustainable and efficient energy source,” said Tiur. This innovation differs from conventional methods; the BIREGI bioreactor is designed with a sensor-based control system that allows for 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, Princess Sekar Kinanti, often called Putri, informed that BIREGI not only offers solutions for utilizing organic waste and animal manure but also supports Indonesia’s vision for transitioning to clean energy. With the technology developed, BIREGI has the potential to be applied in various sectors, including agriculture, animal husbandry, and the energy industry. Additionally, this project also supports reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promotes the adoption of a circular economy. “We dedicate this project to supporting the national energy transition agenda and making a real contribution to realizing a sustainable energy system,”.
The IKMS Pertamina International Oil Refinery Competition 2024, which was participated in by various leading universities and institutions in Indonesia. Thru a series of rigorous selections including abstract, proposal, presentation, and poster evaluations, the Diponegoro University team successfully demonstrated the superiority of their idea compared to hundreds of other participants. The sub-theme of Energy Transition they chose became an important focus in the context of the global energy transition. Endy Yulianto, S.T., M.T., as the Head of the D4 Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology Study Program, and Yusuf Marifat Fajar Azis S.T., M.T., both jointly guided and played an important role by providing continuous support to the Grafena Iridium team. Collaborative discussions have helped in the development and refinement of innovations. The innovation implemented is a reflection of how technology and collaboration can produce solutions that have a positive impact in the future.