Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Shell Indonesia, in collaboration with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM), held the Shell LiveWire Energy Solutions Roadshow at the Faculty of Engineering, UGM, this week. The event, themed “Technological Innovation for Renewable Energy,” featured experts in industrial engineering and entrepreneurs from the energy transition sector. This initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between academia and industry, aligning with the energy transition goals toward Net Zero Emission.
In a press release, UGM’s Director of Partnerships and Global Relations, Prof. Dr. Puji Astuti, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt., welcomed the collaboration. She emphasized that Indonesia has tremendous renewable energy potential recognized worldwide but has yet to be fully optimized.
“Energy transition not only creates business opportunities but must also be sustainable,” she stated.
Indonesia is targeting Net Zero Emission by 2050 or 2060 by phasing out coal as an energy source. UGM’s Professor of Industrial Engineering, Prof. Ir. Alva Edy Tontowi, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU., ASEAN Eng., noted that the cost of this energy transition is estimated to be double the national healthcare budget.
“This transition is inevitable. By 2040, 118 coal-fired power plant projects will be discontinued, while energy demand continues to grow,” Alva explained.
He stressed that innovation is the key in the transition process. However, not every innovation automatically results in an innovative product. Factors such as product quality, the ability to meet societal needs, and ideal technical specifications must be considered.
“Energy will always be in demand. Moreover, we are facing population growth and evolving needs in the Society 4.0 era,” he added.
Alva also highlighted three main sources of renewable energy in Indonesia: hydroelectric, geothermal, and solar energy. However, major challenges remain, particularly in reducing the production costs of solar energy to make it more accessible to the public.
“Stability and accessibility are crucial. Renewable energy must be able to meet societal needs, both in terms of infrastructure and cost,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Shell Indonesia’s General Manager of B2B Lubricants, Farishadi Rukandi, stated that the energy transition is an inseparable part of global dynamics. He projected that the world’s population, currently at 9 billion, will continue to grow to 11 billion, driving further increases in energy demand.
“Youth must be capable of driving innovation and leading the future energy transition. Asia, including Indonesia, is a major market. Research is a key factor in generating innovation,” Farishadi remarked.
He emphasized that the journey from innovation to market-ready products is not easy. Innovation, he noted, is not just about creating products but also about designing market schemes and building strong collaborations.
“Before innovation can be marketed, it must go through numerous trial and error processes. Therefore, multi-sector synergy is crucial to produce adaptive and sustainable innovations,” he concluded.
