Community Service Team at LPPM Itenas Developed Household Scale FRP Biogas Reactor Technology in Sunten Jaya Village, Lembang
Institut Teknologi Nasional Bandung’s Research and Community Service Office (LPPM Itenas) implemented the Household-Scale Biogas Reactor technology using Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) in Sunten Jaya Village, Lembang, West Bandung Regency. The project was carried out as part of the Community Empowerment Scheme under the Community Service Program (PKM), realized through the collaboration between LPPM Itenas and the Biogas Workshop BCL of Wangunharja Village. The LPPM Itenas team was led by Dr.rer.nat Riny Yolandha Parapat S.T., M.T., M.Sc., with members Ronny Kurniawan, S.T., M.T., and Yuono, S.T., M.T.
The program aimed to develop a household-scale reactor with Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) composite technology using prefabrication methods through strengthening local workshops in rural areas. This would enable farmers to access affordable biogas reactors more easily. Additionally, the technology was expected to accelerate the spread of household-scale biogas technology in Indonesia.
The Biogas Workshop BCL in Wangunharja Village, established by Wawa Wahyudi and Teja Harjaya, has been managing a workshop that serves the construction of biogas units for the village community. The biogas reactors they had been developing were of the fixed-dome type with conventional technology that had been around for over 50 years without significant changes. Recognizing the need for a more efficient, space-saving, cost-effective, and smaller land footprint model, they decided to develop a new reactor. The required land area is smaller compared to typical biogas reactors of the same size, being approximately 4 m2, with installation taking 1-2 days.
The development of the biogas reactor took place in Sunten Jaya Village, an area in the Citarum River basin experiencing a decline in environmental quality due to the direct discharge of livestock waste into the river. Given this condition, developing a biogas reactor becomes crucial to improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase household access to renewable energy, and produce environmentally friendly organic fertilizer. The installed biogas reactor also serves as a demonstration plot for the dissemination of appropriate technology to a wider audience, contributing to the progress and welfare of the community.
The household-scale FRP biogas reactor produces biogas that can be used directly by the community for cooking for approximately 4-5 hours (1 m3 of biogas is equivalent to 0.46 kg of LPG). Not only does it produce biogas, but the production process also yields by-products like bioslurry, which can be utilized as fertilizer. The FRP biogas reactor is the latest development for household-scale biogas. It has several advantages, including efficient gas production, durable machinery, compact design saving land use, easy installation, and straightforward operation and maintenance.
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