Adnan Hasyim Wibowo, a student of the Geophysics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), together with a team from various faculties at UI, namely Wildan Bagus Maulana and Farrel Mukti Attallah (FEB); Rafi Aurelian (FISIP) and Safry Sitorus (FT), won first place in the international competition "AAPG Sustainable Development in Energy Competition 2024" organized by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) in Houston, Texas, United States (17/6).
They are part of the MAKARA Team from the University of Indonesia (UI) which showcases innovation and creative solutions in the field of renewable energy and has succeeded in outperforming other teams from Hungary and India. The MAKARA Team project entitled “Canopi: Enhancing Solar Energy Efficiency and Coffee Yield via Dual-Axis Agrivoltaic Integration with Shade-Grown Cultivation”, caught the attention of the jury with its innovative approach to improving solar energy efficiency, and coffee yields through the integration of dual-axis agrivoltaics with coffee cultivation.
The Canopi project proposed by the MAKARA Team is an eco-social business project that combines renewable energy technology with sustainable agricultural practices. In this project, they use solar panels that can move following the position of the sun (dual-axis) to maximize energy absorption. These solar panels are installed on coffee farms that use shade-grown cultivation methods.
This method not only increases the efficiency of solar energy absorption, but also provides benefits to the coffee plants growing underneath. Coffee plants cultivated using this shade cultivation method tend to have better quality and are more resistant to climate change. In addition, this agrivoltaic integration also helps reduce water evaporation from the soil, thereby increasing the efficiency of water use in agriculture.
Adnan, who is also the Outstanding Student (Mapres) of the University of Indonesia (UI) Undergraduate Program in 2024, said that the success of the Makara team cannot be separated from the support of the university, supervising lecturers, and all related parties.
"We received great guidance and support from the lecturers and the university. They helped us in every stage of the development of this project, from the initial research to the final presentation at the competition," said Adnan.
To the FMIPA UI Public Relations team, Adnan explained his role in the Makara team project design. Adnan played a role in analyzing technical needs such as tool design and land suitability, making projections impact which can be produced starting from energy generated capacity and SDGs impact, as well as create milestone for long-term implementation.
Safry Sitorus, head of the MAKARA Team, expressed his pride and gratitude for this achievement. "This victory is real proof that Indonesia has great potential in the field of renewable energy. We hope that the Canopi project can have a positive impact on society and inspire the younger generation to continue to innovate for a sustainable future," said Safry.
This year's AAPG annual competition was held online from Houston, involving participants from students and young professionals around the world. This competition is not only a place to showcase technical skills and innovation, but also to share knowledge and learn from other participants who share the same vision for a better energy future.
Dean of FMIPA UI Prof. Dede Djuhana expressed his highest appreciation to Adnan and his teammates. According to him, Adnan and his team have shown an important role and participation as students in the development of solution-based modeling technology, to support the management and optimization of renewable energy sources. This also shows their ability to apply the theoretical knowledge they learn in class, into practical solutions that can be applied in the field.
“The Makara team’s participation and contribution in developing solution-based modeling technology for renewable energy not only reflects their academic success, but also shows their commitment to contribute positively in creating sustainable solutions for the future of global energy,” said Prof. Dede.
