In a resounding triumph, a team of UGM students clinched the top spot in the Geothermal Technology Innovation competition, orchestrated by the Indonesian Geothermal Association of UPN Veteran Yogyakarta on Dec. 4, 2023.
The team, comprising M. Rizki Ramadhan and M. Syafaq Abdallah from Geological Engineering, along with Adnan Farhat Rizalis and Hafiz Agung Maulana from Mechanical Engineering, outshone their counterparts from ITS, ITB, and UPN Veteran Yogyakarta.
The UGM student team distinguished themselves by presenting a comprehensive written work that seamlessly integrated Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technologies, significantly enhancing the efficiency of geothermal systems, particularly in low-medium enthalpy geothermal site scenarios.
Hafiz Agung Maulana, a Mechanica Telluris team member of the UGM Faculty of Engineering, expressed sheer delight and a profound sense of achievement.
He revealed that the preparation for the competition spanned about three months, commencing with the inception of ideas and references, followed by extensive consultations with their supervising lecturers.
“Initially, we didn’t anticipate winning, given that the participants hailed from the finest universities in Indonesia. However, we’re grateful for this unexpected victory,” Maulana conveyed in a press release on Wednesday (Jan. 3).
The team meticulously crafted a 60-page paper to participate in the presentation and innovation technology poster competitions. Upon selection, they presented their innovation to the discerning jury.
The crux of their work addressed the abundant low-medium enthalpy geothermal potential in Indonesia, often nestled in protected forests and customary lands, posing a challenge to establishing geothermal power plants in the country.
“In the system we proposed, residual hot water from geothermal power plants can be harnessed as an energy source for drying agricultural products in the surrounding community, such as coffee. This way, we aim for the local community to reap the benefits directly,” said Maulana.
He underscored the arduous nature of translating innovative ideas into their paper, especially given the diverse perspectives of team members in problem-solving.
“The initial challenge stemmed from our diverse disciplines, leading to differences of opinion about the ideas we wished to present. Nevertheless, we overcame this hurdle because we shared a common vision for the future of energy in Indonesia,” he remarked.
According to Maulana, while EGS and ORC technologies have found application abroad, they remain unprecedented in Indonesia.
“The integration of these two technologies is a relatively unexplored topic here. Hence, our idea stands to bolster geothermal energy advancement in the country,” Maulana concluded.
Author: Gusti Grehenson