Universitas Indonesia (UI) student, Adnan Hasyim Wibowo, won the title of youngest solution provider at the prestigious Asia Pacific Solution Forum (APSF) 2023 held by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) at Sunway Resort Hotel, Malaysia. He created an innovative water screw turbine called PARCIS (Portable Archimedes Screw), which is a small-scale hydroelectric power plant that is able to utilize water energy more efficiently. Adnan presented this innovation at a forum held last November.
The event with the theme “Accelerating Local Action for the SDGs in the Asia-Pacific” presented solution initiatives from various ideas and practical projects involving new technologies, methods, business models, institutional mechanisms, educational models, and policy instruments to accelerate sustainable development. At the forum, Adnan received feedback from panelists, including Prof. Woo Wing Thye (Vice President of SDSN Asia and Research Professor at Sunway University) and Tan Sri Sir Jeffrey Cheah (Founder and Chairman of Sunway Group). They highlight the application and potential scalability of PARCIS as a renewable energy innovation.
PARCIS was developed by Adnan and his team members, namely Ruth Emmanuella Princsillia and Jawi Kuncoro Jaqti, who are all students from the Geophysics Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI. The development of PARCIS was motivated by the challenges of utilizing water energy in areas where water resources are not well managed. Areas around rivers and ditches usually have minimal lighting at night. Therefore, they took the initiative to convert wasted energy into a source of sustainable lighting and energy.
“PARCIS was originally just an idea for a competition. Alhamdulillah, this innovative idea won first place in the Product Design Competition at the SOBAT Competition organized by PT United Tractor in August 2022. This victory then encouraged us to develop it further, not only as an academic project, but also as a real solution that can bring positive impact on society,” said Adnan.
PARCIS components consist of a frame, turbine, powerhouse, and power distribution cables. The way this tool works is that the water that enters the frame will move the turbine, and electrical energy will be produced which is then stored in the powerhouse. The electrical energy stored in the powerhouse is then distributed to loads, such as street lights, with cables.
Adnan said that the PARCIS innovation has several advantages, including not requiring large amounts of water to use, the Mini-Hydro power in PARCIS makes this technology easy to carry and move when used. Apart from that, this innovative product is low cost and environmentally friendly, because there is no need to damage the physical contours of nature in its installation.
Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., appreciated the achievements of Adnan and the team. According to him, PARCIS is the chosen solution initiative that is innovative and practical, in addressing sustainable development issues, especially aspects of clean and renewable energy. “This achievement is a representation of FMIPA UI’s capacity as an institution that plays an active role in producing innovative solutions to global problems. With the birth of PARCIS, we took the initiative in developing technology that is not only possible in concept, but also has a social impact and is feasible to implement,” said Prof. Dede.
