Collaborating with New Energy Nexus, Ministry of EMR Accelerates Energy Innovations

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL RESOURCES

REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

PRESS RELEASE

NUMBER: 363.Pers/04/SJI/2020

Date: 23 November 2020

Collaborating with New Energy Nexus, Ministry of EMR Accelerates Energy Innovations

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EMR) continues to collaborate with various parties to create a competitive climate and come up with major innovations in the energy sector in order to respond to global challenges. One of such collaboration is by supporting the first virtual hackathon held by New Energy Nexus Indonesia.

On the theme of smart and renewable energy, the hackathon has been specially designed to identify smart and renewable energy innovations that will help Indonesia adapt to the future. This time, the competition focuses on community health and productivity.

"Facing the challenges in changing times which includes the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, we must be able to overcome any possibility. For this reason, creative ideas from young people can become an oasis in the development of new and renewable energy," said Advisor to Minister of EMR for Environment and Spatial Planning, Saleh Abdurrahman, while judging the 10 best works in the [RE]Energize Indonesia hackathon on Sunday (23/11).

Saleh further stressed that the supply side of energy could be an important consideration to think up an idea. In addition, the government has set a target of New, Renewable Energy (NRE) mix of 23% by 2025.

In line with Saleh, New Energy Nexus Indonesia Program Director Diyanto Imam expressed his organization's vision of accelerating the use of NRE. He hopes that NRE will become the backbone that supports national economy in the future.

"We have a vision of promoting the formation of an economy that is based on clean and renewable energy accessible to all. We are trying to achieve this vision through a mission, that is, to support entrepreneurs and start-ups to innovate and produce technological ideas for NRE utilization for Indonesia's welfare," said Diyanto.

In this hackathon, an innovation called "Microlab Lab", which is a digital smart microgrid controller, caught the jury's attention. Microlab Lab is a solution to new, renewable energy management that optimizes the Cost of Energy in the 3T (frontier, remote, and least developed) regions. The design, which was submitted by Christopher Kennard and his three colleagues, finally won the first place in the Hackaton Energy Nexus Indonesia.

The first runner-up is "E-rice", a sustainable agricultural equipment developed based on intensification method. The second runner-up is Semesta Energi Services, a PCR laboratory and mobile vaccination center powered by solar energy. The winner, first and second runners-up will receive a prize of Rp. 50,000,000, Rp. 30,000,000, and Rp. 15,000,000, respectively.

Registration for the competition was open from September 24, 2020. Announcement of ten teams with the best ideas was made on November 11. Seven teams focused on improving community productivity, while the other 3 teams offered renewable energy ideas to solve challenges to public health. Top ten teams presented their ideas virtually, which was also broadcast live through the Youtube channel of New Energy Nexus Indonesia.

New Energy Nexus had previously held hackathons in various parts of the world such as South Korea and Thailand. In South Korea, the event was titled LGChem and held in collaboration with LG, Hyundai, and Kia. In Thailand, the competition was called Smart Energy Hackathon. Hackathon [RE]Energize Indonesia also marks the second year of journey by New Energy Nexus in Indonesia in building an inclusive ecosystem of renewable energy start-ups.

To date, New Energy Nexus has completed four batches of incubation programs and mentored more than 20 renewable energy start-ups. These programs have honed the strategies of business players and innovators.

New Energy Nexus is an international organization that seeks to help build a world economy that is based on renewable energy. To achieve this goal, Nexus supports a variety of clean energy entrepreneurs through funding, accelerator programs, and networks. New Energy Nexus started their programs in California, the United States and now have operations in New York, China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. (IY)

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