The Community Service (PKM) of Politeknik Negeri Malang collaborates with the orphanage boarding school Al-Ikhlas to implement the utilization of micro-hydro power plants as an electrical energy source in the Al-Ikhlas orphanage boarding school located in Singosari District, Malang Regency.
The cost of electricity usage at the Al-Ikhlas Orphanage Boarding School in Singosari District, Malang Regency, is relatively high. Every month, the management has to spend approximately Rp. 7,000,000 (seven million Indonesian Rupiah) to pay the PLN bill.
Regarding this matter, there are two possible solutions. The first step is to conduct an audit of electricity usage at the Al-Ikhlas Orphanage Boarding School. The energy audit results will provide recommendations for efforts that can be made to save energy, thus making energy usage more efficient.
The second step is to provide an alternative energy source besides PLN by utilizing the river streams around the environment of the Al-Ikhlas Orphanage Boarding School. The suitable technology is to develop a micro-hydro power plant with a planned installed capacity of 1000 watts.
With the energy audit and the development of this micro-hydro power plant, it is hoped that it can help reduce the costs of electricity usage incurred by the boarding school management. Moreover, the constructed micro-hydro power plant will serve as an educational tool for the boarding school students concerning the provision of electricity from renewable energy sources.
The comprehensive execution of the work, which includes construction, water canals, settling basins, the creation and installation of water turbines, generator installation, electrical panel installation, and electrical installation work, is carried out by the Community Service team comprised of lecturers and students from the Electrical Engineering and Electrical System Study Program at Politeknik Negeri Malang for the academic year 2022-2023.
This step is taken as a concrete manifestation of Polinema’s genuine concern, particularly the Electrical Engineering and Electrical System Study Program, to assist in providing electrical supply at the Al-Ikhlas Orphanage Boarding School by utilizing the water resources around the boarding school.
Meanwhile, the Al-Ikhlas Orphanage Boarding School, as a collaborating partner, granted permission for the construction of the Micro-Hydro Power Plant. Additionally, the boarding school also participates in providing the site for the installation, as well as continuing the operation and maintenance of the Micro-Hydro Power Plant equipment and systems that will be established.