Sustainable Energy and Environment Students Excursion to Balittri, Sukabumi
Students and lecturers of Sustainable Energy and Environment SGU visited the Research Center for Industrial and Freshener Crops (Balai Penelitian Tanaman Industri dan Penyegar/ BALITTRI), Ministry of Agriculture, on October 6th, 2015. The visit is part of learning experience of Renewable Energy subject. Dr. –Ing Evita Legowo as coordinator of Renewable Energy subject mentioned that “It is important for students not only studying the concept of renewable energy of biomass and biofuel in class, but learn, touch and feel the plants that were used as the source of biomass and biofuel. Balittri as energy plantation and research center is a good place to learn.” Ir. Dibyo Pranowo, senior researcher in the Center welcoming the students and lecturer explain that in 150 hectare research plantation managed by BALITTRI in Pakuwon Sukabumi, there are various bioenergy plant such as jathropa, bintaro, kesambi, candlenut, and kemiri sunan. “Our research in obtaining biofuel from plant oil is mostly now focusing on kemiri sunan. The potency and characteristic of the oil is excellent”, explain Ir. Dibyo to the students. Joshua Alpha, one of the students mentioned, “It is very interesting to study the plants and processing, especially most of them are tropical plants. This shows our country potency to produce green energy.”
Ir. Dibyo Pranowo explain the processing of biodiesel to the students
Students and Lecturer with BALITTRI Researchers and Staff on the entrance of BALITTRI Ecotourism Plantation
The students also have the opportunity to explore several machinery and equipment developed by BALITTRI for producing biofuel from plant oil. The biodiesel processing reactor being the most interesting equipment demonstrated to the students. The equipment is capable of processing various plant oil into high grade biodiesel, and is ready for implementation in Nusa Tenggara Timur. “Since Sustainable Energy and Environment students are under the Department of Chemical Engineering, it is important that the students understand basic reaction and reactor design for processing the oil into biodiesel,” mentioned Dr. Irvan Kartawiria, lecturer for Renewable Energy in SGU. The visit was concluded by exploring the Ecotourism/ Education Plantation Site, where BALITTRI proudly host various tropical industrial plants such as aromatic lemongrass, cacao and coffee.
