PT Pertamina Patra Niaga AFT Adi Sumarmo is one of the aircraft refueling depots owned by Pertamina, located on Jl. Panasan Baru, Ngesrep, Ngemplak, Boyolali, Central Java. It is the largest aviation fuel (avtur) storage depot in Central Java. The operational processes of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga AFT Adi Sumarmo include receiving, storing, and distributing fuel.
The Earth is currently facing the threat of a climate crisis, which poses various harmful impacts on human life. The renewable electricity project for public street lighting using water hyacinth from the Cengklik Reservoir aims to introduce the community to the use of environmentally friendly renewable energy. The Cengklik Reservoir has long struggled with the issue of water hyacinth infestation, which covers nearly a quarter of the reservoir's surface. This has led to sedimentation, a reduction in the reservoir's water volume, disruption of the aquatic ecosystem, and even the triggering of upwelling events that have caused the mass death of thousands of farmed fish in community floating net cages, resulting in economic losses.
Previously, there had been no significant efforts to address the water hyacinth problem other than manually removing it with a dredging machine. However, since the implementation of this program, water hyacinth has been processed into renewable energy for public street lighting and biogas. The use of this renewable energy innovation for street lighting has generated economic, environmental, and social benefits for the community.
From an economic perspective, the use of public street lighting powered by water hyacinth has saved Rp 1,200,000 per month in conventional electricity costs. Environmentally, the installation of 10 streetlights powered by water hyacinth energy along ±1 KM in Turibang Hamlet, Sobokerto Village, has reduced carbon emissions by 0.770256 tons of CO². Additionally, the removal of water hyacinth from the surface of the Cengklik Reservoir for biogas production has positively impacted the reservoir’s water quality.
Laboratory tests on the reservoir's water quality showed that in September 2022, the BOD level was 107 mg/L (exceeding the quality standard), and the COD level was 30 mg/L (also exceeding the standard). However, by September 2024, laboratory test results indicated improvements, with BOD levels reduced to 2.8 mg/L and COD levels to 24 mg/L, meeting the quality standards. A total of 2,500 kg of water hyacinth has been removed from the reservoir’s surface and utilized as biogas feedstock, which has been converted into renewable electricity for public street lighting.
The Social Return on Investment (SROI) measurement of the community empowerment program, which includes this water hyacinth-based renewable energy innovation, yielded a score of 1.66, indicating a positive impact. This innovation, utilizing water hyacinth from the Cengklik Reservoir as a biogas feedstock for renewable electricity generation, has led to the installation of public street lighting along 1 KM² in Turibang Hamlet, Sobokerto Village—making it a pioneering initiative in Boyolali Regency. This is validated by an official innovation novelty statement issued by the Boyolali Environmental Agency in 2024.
One of the main challenges in this innovation is ensuring the active and consistent participation of the local community, particularly through the "Ngudi Tirto Lestari" community group, which is actively engaged in preserving the Cengklik Reservoir ecosystem. The community empowerment program in Sobokerto Village, Boyolali, focusing on the utilization of water hyacinth as an innovative solution, is the only initiative of its kind in the region. In recent years, the program has demonstrated significant impacts, not only in controlling aquatic weeds but also in transforming water hyacinth into value-added products such as biogas fertilizer, renewable electricity, and fish feed.
The uniqueness of this program lies in its holistic approach, integrating economic empowerment with environmental conservation. The primary energy source in this innovation is eco-friendly renewable energy. Water hyacinth from the Cengklik Reservoir undergoes a shredding process before being converted into biogas, which is then purified and transformed into renewable electricity. The generated electricity is stored in batteries, which are later used to power a generator supplying electricity to public streetlights along the roads of Turibang Hamlet, Sobokerto Village. These streetlights operate from 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
This renewable energy innovation for public street lighting from water hyacinth at the Cengklik Reservoir has demonstrated measurable impacts, as reflected in quantitative metrics showing energy efficiency, cost savings, and emissions reduction. The innovation has reduced carbon emissions by 0.770256 tons of CO² and saved Rp 1,200,000 per month in conventional electricity costs. The program ensures that all activities align with applicable environmental policies, with strict oversight to comply with regulations set by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK).
