Supporting Renewable Energy, PPK Ormawa BEM FMIPA from IPB University Utilises PLTMH at the Grand Opening of Bumi Luhur Tourism
The implementation team of the Student Organisation Capacity Building Program (PPK Ormawa) from the Student Executive Board of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (BEM FMIPA) IPB University held the Grand Opening of Bumi Luhur Tourism, titled ‘Rampak Ciasmara: Laras Ati Bumi Asmara’. The event took place in Curug Gleweran, Cibeureum Village, Ciasmara Village, Bogor, West Java.
This opening ceremony was enlivened with various cultural performances such as traditional celempung music, singing regional songs, salawat, and ‘Lutung Kasarung’ theatre by village children. Uniquely, all electricity needs for this event are fully supplied by free electricity from the Micro Hydropower Plant (PLTMH) which was built by the village community accompanied by IPB University students of the PPK Ormawa implementation team through the Bumi Alir program.
Naufal Mustaqim, one of the member of PPK Ormawa from BEM FMIPA team, said that the existence of the Bumi Alur program, which is the creation of PLTMH aims to be an independent source of electricity to fulfil the electricity needs of other Bumi Luhur programs.
PPK Ormawa BEM FMIPA students who are the main drivers of this event, together with the community of Ciasmara Village, succeeded in building PLTMH Bumi Alir as one of the main tourist spots. “By using electricity from PLTMH, we want to show that big events like this can run with renewable energy that can be utilised continuously,” he said.
“With electricity generated for free by PLTMH, the people of Ciasmara Village not only reduce their dependence on fossil energy, but also reduce operational costs in the long run,” added Naufal.
Rayhan Ali Alfharidzi, one of the members of the PPK Ormawa BEM FMIPA team as well as the person in charge of Bumi Alir explained, this PLTMH was made by utilising the river flow from Curug Gleweran to produce enough electricity to meet the needs of Bumi Luhur, including the title of Rampak Ciasmara.
“Starting from lighting, sound system, to lighting the event area at night, everything is powered by electricity from PLTMH. The power capacity of the PLTMH produced is also quite large, which has successfully reached 2,000 watts,” he said.
The use of PLTMH in this event is not just an alternative source of electricity, but also as a symbol of commitment with IPB University students and the Ciasmara Village community to adopt sustainable practices in daily life. “We hope this event can inspire more people to utilise natural resources wisely and preserve our culture,” he hoped.
Behind the success of the construction of PLTMH in the Bumi Alir program, there is an important role from Ted Hilbert, an expert lecturer from Luxembourg who is familiarly called ‘Mas Ted’. He always accompanies and gives great contributions since the planning stage. Mas Ted is directly involved in the PLTMH construction process, providing technical guidance in the field and helping to overcome various technical challenges that arise. (*/Rz) (IAAS/IAN)
