Institut Teknologi Bandung

The event took place at Multipurpose Hall CRCS and was broadcasted online via Zoom Meeting. The title of the seminar was "Indonesia Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Regional Economic Development".

The Institute for Research and Community Service ITB (LPPM-ITB) is collaborating with TU Delft in research titled "Regional Development Planning and Ideal Lifestyle of Future Indonesia – By Utilizing Advance Green Energy Technology and Trans/Inter-disciplinary Approaches" (a BRIN and NWO sponsored program) for the 2020/2022 period and is led by Dr. Harkunti P. Rahayu from the School of Architecture, Planning, and Policy Development (SAPPD) ITB and Kornelis Blok from TU Delft. This program involves many ITB lecturers from various disciplines.

As a part of the research project, a Joint International Seminar titled "Indonesia Energy Transition: Towards Sustainable Regional Economic Development" was held on 18 October 2022 at Multipurpose Hall CRCS ITB Building. The objective of this seminar is to provide information on the current state of energy transition in Indonesia and globally, especially in Europe.

This seminar invited Ir. Yudo Dwinanda Priaadi, M.S., the Head of Energy Transition in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, as the main keynote speaker. Other speakers that were invited are Ir. Satya Widya Yudha, M.Sc., from the National Energy Council, and Andriah Feby Misna, S.T., M.T., M.Sc., from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Ir. Harkunti P. Rahayu, Ph.D., from the School of Architecture, Planning, and Policy Development (SAPPD) ITB in her opening said that Indonesia is experiencing energy insecurity due to natural disasters such as climate change and extreme weather. Meanwhile, the energy sector is a crucial sector for a nation, Indonesia included, just as the human lifestyle requires a high quantity and quality of energy.

The transition from conventional energy to renewable energy became the solution to solve that energy insecurity. Changes due to global warming became an important basis for switching to green energy and renewable energy sources. "This is the basis of the collaboration between ITB, UI, and TU Delft with the fund that was sponsored by The Dutch Research Council (NOW) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology," she said.

This joint research cooperation has published several journals, policy papers, and academic articles. A policy paper that had been published was accepted by the Bali Provincial Government to create green and clean energy for the environment.

"I hope that this collaboration would not end only as a research paper, but also can bring positive impact to the environment in Indonesia by providing clear guidance towards energy transition," she said.

Representing TU-Delft, Prof. Kornelis Blok conveyed that energy transition has been increasing in popularity in the research that was carried out by TU-Delft, such as on solar energy, nuclear energy, green energy, etc. He hopes that this Joint Research can bring a positive impact on the community.

Meanwhile, the Head of LPPM ITB, Dr. eng. Ir. Yuli Setyo Indartono, said that the energy problem is our common problem. The intention to change has been expressed many times such as in the Paris Agreement that was signed by 194 countries, including Indonesia.

New and renewable energy is one of the solutions that can be carried out to implement the Paris Agreement. With renewable energy, he continued, oil imports can be reduced. Moreover, new and renewable energy can be very beneficial for the future and the environment. ITB as one of the engineering institutions in Indonesia with its many science and technology research projects is very actively involved in research on new and renewable energy.

Regarding the development of new renewable energy in Indonesia, ITB held joint research to transfer its knowledge on the development of research areas, and the future of Indonesia.

The research collaboration that was carried out in this program, said Dr. Yuli, is hoped to build a bridge between experts from ITB to the government, industry, and the international world. "I hope that the collaboration between ITB, UI, and TU-Delft can bring benefits for the development of science and technology, and also through this cooperation can strengthen the connection between Indonesia and the Netherlands," he said.

Translator: Favian Aldilla R (Civil Engineering, 2019)