The UGM Community Service Program (KKN-PPM) students have successfully installed solar panels in Tani Baru Village, Anggana District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan.
This project is part of their efforts to help the village community gain better access to electricity by utilizing one of the renewable energy sources, solar power.
For years, Tani Baru Village has had limited access to electricity, available only from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM WITA daily. Outside these hours, the village lacks a power source, disrupting various daily productive activities, such as business operations, fish storage, and education.
This situation has forced the community to adapt to living without electricity during the day unless they use solar panels as an alternative energy source.
Recognizing the need for more stable electricity access, the UGM Mahakam Adventure team offered a long-term and environmentally friendly solar energy solution.
“Solar panels are the right choice due to the high potential of sunlight in this area. Solar panels allow the village to access electricity all day and night,” said Allisya Maharani Adinda Wibowo, a team member, in a statement to reporters on Monday (Aug. 19).
As an initial step, Wibowo explained that solar panels were installed at the Tani Baru Village office, chosen as the installation site because it serves as the center for government activities and public services.
Public services can be more efficient and effective with electricity at all times. “The installed solar panels can generate and store enough energy to meet the electricity needs of the village office 24 hours a day,” she noted.
The solar panel installation process involved not only the UGM KKN-PPM team but also the participation of residents. Community involvement is crucial to ensuring the project’s success.
Ilyas, the Head of Tani Baru Village, expressed his hope that the villagers would follow the example set by the UGM KKN-PPM team in supporting renewable energy development and contribute to improving Tani Baru Village.
“What these students have done can be emulated to support renewable energy,” he remarked.
In addition to installing solar panels, the UGM KKN-PPM team educated the community on how to use and maintain this technology. This training is essential to ensure the community can properly utilize the solar panels and maintain their functionality over the long term.
The training covered basic knowledge about solar panels, installation steps, and maintenance tips to keep them efficient.
“With this knowledge, it is hoped that the village community will be more independent in using and maintaining renewable energy technology,” Wibowo added.
Fauzul Idhi, Chair of the Kagama in East Kalimantan, mentioned that the solar panel installation project in Tani Baru Village is expected to support the village’s electricity access. With more stable and sustainable electricity, residents can carry out their activities without the previous time limitations.
“The presence of solar panels also raises community awareness about the importance of utilizing environmentally friendly renewable energy,” said Idhi.
Fauzul Idhi hopes that this solar panel installation initiative will be an essential first step in improving the quality of life for the people of Tani Baru Village and can serve as an example for other villages in Kutai Kartanegara and other regions of Indonesia facing similar electricity access challenges.
“This project can also be a model for renewable energy-based village development that can be implemented in various remote areas in Indonesia,” he concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afif