Depok, March 6, 2025. Three students from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), have brought pride to Indonesia on the international stage by winning Third Place in the 2024 Southeast Asian Division of The ISETS-ESCAP Youth Voice Competition at the United Nations ESCAP Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. Competing against 77 teams from 33 countries, the FTUI student team introduced a sustainable energy solution called CACA SOPAN (Carbon Capture and Storage–Solar Panel Biotechnology).
The Go Green Sustainable (GGS) Team, consisting of Josafat Pasaribu, Renanda Wafi Fakhri, and Efraim Yunus, developed an integrated system combining Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, solar energy, and biotechnology. Their innovation captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions and converts them into eco-friendly alcohol fuels such as butanol and hexanol. This breakthrough aligns with the Net Zero Emission 2060 target and supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“With a production capacity of up to 12,900 mol of alcohol per hour, this system offers high efficiency with an initial investment of IDR 164.5 billion, a return on investment (ROI) of 33.33%, and a payback period of approximately 4.5 years. Beyond reducing carbon emissions, this project also has the potential to create new job opportunities, in line with Indonesia’s green economic development needs,” explained Josafat.
This competition, held on Wednesday (4/12/24), was organized by the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS) in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The prestigious event featured 300 participants from around the world, and finalists were invited to present their projects at the UN Headquarters in Bangkok after undergoing a six-month online selection process.
Adam Febriyanto Nugraha, S.T., Ph.D., a faculty member in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at FTUI, provided intensive academic guidance to support the GGS team’s success. This mentorship highlights the importance of collaboration between students and faculty in developing innovations that impact society.
The Dean of FTUI, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., expressed his appreciation for this achievement. “This accomplishment proves that FTUI students excel in academic competitions and creating innovative solutions relevant to global challenges. We hope this success will inspire other students to continue innovating and making meaningful contributions to support sustainable energy transition in Indonesia,” said Prof. Kemas.
He added that this achievement serves as concrete evidence that the synergy between student creativity and academic support can produce impactful innovations, further strengthening the role of young generations in shaping a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
