MEDAN, JurnalPost.com – Renewable energy innovation does not always require expensive technology. In the hands of Rimbawati, an Electrical Engineering lecturer at the University of Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), flowing water, sunlight, livestock waste, and even repurposed induction motors can be transformed into valuable energy sources for the community.
One such success is visible in Bintang Asih Hamlet, Rumah Sumbul Village. The micro-hydro power plant built by Rimbawati and her team in 2017 continues to help meet the electricity needs of local residents to this day.
This series of innovations aligns with the spirit of Impactful Higher Education Research, which encourages universities to not only produce research but also provide tangible solutions for the community and support national technological independence.
Rimbawati has been teaching at UMSU since 2004. She teaches several courses, including Power System Analysis, New and Renewable Energy, and Research Methods.
Her research focuses on three renewable energy sources: micro-hydro, solar power, and biogas. Since 2015, various research and community service projects she has conducted with her team have received grant support from the ministry overseeing higher education.
Micro-hydro Assists Residents Without Electricity Access
In 2017, approximately 30 families in Bintang Asih Hamlet lacked access to electricity.
Through funding from the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti), Rimbawati and her team built a micro-hydro power plant by utilizing the water flow available around the settlement.
“The impact is that those who previously had no access to electricity have been able to enjoy it from 2017 until today, thanks to the research and community service we conducted,” said Rimbawati.
The plant was later developed into a hybrid system. The team added a solar power plant with a capacity of 1,000 watts, allowing the energy supply to come from two sources simultaneously: water flow and sunlight.
Another innovation involved using a repurposed induction motor as a generator for the micro-hydro plant.
The induction motor, purchased for approximately Rp200 thousand, was modified to generate electricity.
“At a relatively low cost of only two hundred thousand rupiah, we innovated by converting the induction motor into a generator. I then applied this to build a micro-hydro power plant,” she explained.
According to Rimbawati, engineering research should not stop at designs or laboratory experiments.
Research results need to be applied directly to provide real benefits to the community.
“Engineering fields tend to be highly applicable to the public. The research we conduct can be directly implemented for the community,” she said.
Solar Power Reduces Electricity Costs in Tourism Areas
In addition to micro-hydro, Rimbawati and her team also developed a solar power system in the Pematang Johar Village tourism area.
She noted that the use of solar energy in the area has been able to reduce electricity costs by approximately 80 percent.
The application of this technology demonstrates that renewable energy can not only meet basic community needs but also has the potential to increase operational efficiency in economic and tourism zones.
Cow Manure Waste Processed into Biogas
Renewable energy development is also being carried out in Bekium Village, Kuala District, Langkat Regency.
In that region, Rimbawati and her team developed a biogas pilot project by utilizing cow manure waste.
According to Rimbawati, cow manure production in the village reaches approximately 18 tons per day. If not managed properly, this waste has the potential to cause air and water pollution.
Through this program, the community is educated on processing livestock waste into biogas that can be used for household needs.
The use of biogas is also expected to reduce family expenditures on purchasing LPG.
“That is our way of educating the community in Bekium Village, showing that livestock waste which would otherwise be discarded and cause air or water pollution can be utilized to produce gas for family needs,” she explained.
In carrying out these various research and community service projects, Rimbawati noted that UMSU's support has played a crucial role.
Support is provided in the form of laboratory facilities, material assistance, and administrative completion that facilitates the implementation of research in the field.
Looking ahead, Rimbawati plans to integrate the three energy sources that have been the focus of her research—micro-hydro, solar power, and biogas—into a single, unified energy system.
“I hope that in the future, I can collaborate on micro-hydro, solar power, and biogas derived from livestock and household waste into an innovation that can be used by the community, especially in rural areas,” she hoped.
This development is expected to expand the use of renewable energy in rural areas while demonstrating that campus innovation can have a direct impact on the quality of life of the community.
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