Group photo of representatives from Solar2Wave and the British Embassy after the discussion at the ITS Research Center Building

ITS Campus, ITS News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) received a visit from the British Embassy delegation in order to strengthen cooperation on low-carbon energy transition. Through the UK-Indonesia Bilateral Program, Towards Indonesia’s Low-Carbon Energy Transition (MENTARI), held at the ITS Research Center Building, Tuesday (11/2), it highlighted the strategic role of innovative technology in the energy sector.

Director of Research and Community Service (DRPM) ITS, Fadlilatul Taufany ST PhD, revealed that this collaboration has great potential in accelerating the adoption of maritime-based clean energy. One of the concrete efforts that have been made is the development of offshore floating solar power plant technology designed to increase the efficiency of renewable energy utilization in coastal areas and open waters.

The man who is often called Taufany added that ITS had previously received funding from Innovate United Kingdom (UK) under UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) for the Solar2Wave project. This technology is not only an innovative solution in utilizing solar energy in the maritime environment. “This support shows global trust in ITS as an institution that is able to present innovative energy solutions,” he explained.

Director of DRPM ITS, Fadlilatul Taufany ST PhD, opening the British Embassy visit meeting at the ITS Research Center Building

British Embassy Energy Advisor, Rizka Sari, also appreciated ITS’s role in maritime technology and renewable energy research. She emphasized that innovations such as Solar2Wave are in line with the MENTARI Program’s vision in presenting sustainable off-grid energy solutions. “This technology has the potential to be a model for implementing an energy transition that can be replicated in various coastal areas of Indonesia,” she said.

Furthermore, Rizka explained that the British Embassy wanted to dig deeper into the implementation of this technology and the possibility of its adaptation and scalability. “We see that this collaboration not only contributes to the academic sector, but also has a direct impact on national decarbonization efforts,” she added.

Head of the Solar2Wave Indonesia research team, Prof. Dr. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama MSc, explaining the advantages of Solar2Wave

The head of the Solar2Wave Indonesia research team, Prof. Dr. I Ketut Aria Pria Utama MSc, emphasized that this innovation is an important breakthrough in the utilization of renewable energy in water areas. Unlike most solar power projects, Solar2Wave is designed to face the challenges of the open sea environment. “This success opens up exploration opportunities to strengthen national energy security,” said the lecturer from the ITS Department of Naval Architecture.

Ikap, as he is familiarly called, is optimistic that this collaboration can encourage the ecosystem of renewable energy research and industry in Indonesia. According to him, cooperation with various parties, including the government and the private sector, will accelerate the adoption of clean energy technology. “We hope this will be the first step towards wider utilization of marine energy and support Indonesia’s net zero emission target,” he concluded hopefully.

Not only a strategy towards utilizing ocean energy and net zero emission targets, the ITS Solar2Wave project, which is part of the energy transition effort, also contributes in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 7, namely Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 13, namely Climate Change, and SDG 17, namely Partnerships For the Goals. (ITS PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Reporter: Naurah Fitri