Three students from the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology Study Program (TRKI) at Diponegoro University, class of 2024, namely Firna Alfinatunnaimah, Bagja Maulana, and Dzaqy Kafa Al Faza, successfully brought honor to the campus by winning 2nd place in the PLN SustainAction 2025 competition in the Climate Change Solution Innovation category. This team proposed a visionary idea titled “BIO-AIGA CELL KAPOTA,” a concept for developing clean energy based on local microalgae for household lighting in coastal areas.
The idea focuses on utilizing the photosynthetic capabilities of microalgae to generate electricity thru an efficiently designed biofilm reactor system. Thru this approach, it is hoped that renewable energy can be produced independently by coastal communities at low cost and with minimal environmental impact.
The activity plan includes research and development of the BIO-AIGA CELL prototype, starting from reactor design, selection of high photosynthetic microalgae strains, to biofilm performance testing. Additionally, this program also includes community training on microalgae cultivation, system maintenance, and household energy management to promote energy independence at the village level.
Thru this competition, the BIO-AIGA CELL KAPOTA team successfully convinced the jury of the practical potential and social impact of their idea. As a form of appreciation, PLN SustainAction 2025 provides implementation funding so that the idea can be realized in the field. In the next development stage, the team will conduct further research and initial trials under the guidance of Abdullah Malik Islam Filardli, S.T., M.T., the supervising lecturer from the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) Study Program at UNDIP Vocational School.
This achievement is a source of pride for the entire UNDIP academic community and also proves that TRKI students are capable of presenting innovative ideas that align with the principles of clean energy, sustainable economy, and coastal community empowerment, said Dr. Mohamad Endy Julianto, St, MT, Head of the TRKI Study Program at UNDIP Vocational School, with gratitude. In the future, the implementation of BIO-AIGA CELL KAPOTA is expected to serve as an inspirational model for the development of renewable energy technology in various regions of Indonesia.