The automotive industry has been established in Indonesia for a hundred years. This sector has undergone various changes and developments to meet the population’s transportation needs.
This year, the transportation sector faces a significant challenge in achieving the carbon emission reduction target by 2060.
Therefore, the UGM Faculty of Engineering addressed this issue in a national seminar on the 100th anniversary of the Indonesian automotive industry on Wednesday (November 8).
“The study of the use of electricity utilizing the potential of renewable energy and building habits that support carbon emission reduction in the automotive industry is expected to encourage Indonesia’s decarbonization commitment,” said the UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro.
“Strengthening this ecosystem involves the education and awareness of the community, which is the responsibility of universities. And I think UGM has carried out various activities to support Sustainable Development Goals.”
This seminar also involved other universities such as Bandung Institute of Technology, University of Indonesia, Sebelas Maret University, Diponegoro University, Udayana University, and Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology.
This collaboration aims to build strong integration to jointly launch environmentally friendly innovations, especially in renewable energy fuel.
Professor Sarjiya of the UGM Faculty of Engineering emphasized that alternatives that can replace but do not pose problems in the socio-economic field are needed to achieve the carbon emission reduction target of 29% independently and 40% with international assistance.
“Why is energy the main focus? If we look at it, the largest contributor to carbon emissions is forestry, followed by energy. So in the energy sector, we need to reduce emissions to 358 million tons,” said Professor Sarjiya.
“Therefore, we need to consider what alternatives we can maximize, and hydrogen is one of the opportunities.”
This commitment to emission reduction cannot be separated from the daily habits of society. Undeniably, the current era has a high need for mobilization in fossil fuel-powered transportation.
Therefore, the strategy that needs to be built is not only to switch to renewable energy but also to balance the needs of society.
Based on data from the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the use of fossil fuels still occupies the first rank. However, in contrast to consumption, the production of these fuels is decreasing due to their decreasing availability in nature.
In the energy sector, the largest contributor to emissions is power plants (243 million tons), followed by transportation (161.6 million tons) and industry (100.7 million tons).
This was conveyed by Andriah Feby Misna, Director of New and Renewable Energy at the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
“The strategy we are implementing is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. We want to achieve the NZE target and create green jobs. Then, we want to pursue decarbonization targets by developing the domestic hydrogen market,” said the director.
“And if we achieve both, Indonesia can export hydrogen and its derivatives to the global market by leveraging its uniqueness as a maritime country.”
Author: Tasya
Image: https://www.esgi.ai/id