Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to strengthen its leadership in promoting renewable energy awareness and the national transition toward 100% clean energy. Through various education and community outreach initiatives, UNNES expands its influence beyond the university by engaging schools, teachers, and students in hands-on learning, public training, and collaborative innovation projects. These activities reflect UNNES’s role as a Conservation University committed to realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
One of the key programs was carried out in November 2024 by the Community Service Team (PPM) of the Electrical Engineering Education Program, Faculty of Engineering UNNES. The team held a training session titled “Trainer Kit Solar Cell Berbasis IoT (Internet of Things)” aimed at improving teachers’ technical and practical understanding of solar energy systems. The training was attended by vocational school teachers from across Central Java who received comprehensive materials and demonstrations on solar cell operation, energy conversion, IoT integration, and system efficiency analysis.
During the workshop, participants learned to design, assemble, and operate an IoT-based solar cell trainer kit that can monitor energy generation and usage in real time. This innovation allows users to evaluate solar panel performance and detect energy losses, promoting efficient energy use. The activity also included discussions on renewable energy policies, energy conservation strategies, and the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels to achieve national carbon reduction targets. According to the project leader, this program is part of UNNES’s long-term commitment to empowering educators as renewable energy ambassadors in their respective schools and communities.
A similar initiative was implemented earlier in August 2024 by another UNNES team at SMK Muhammadiyah Mungkid, Magelang, through a project titled “UNNES Encourages Renewable Energy Innovation.” The team installed a solar panel trainer system and provided in-depth workshops for teachers and students to develop their own renewable energy learning modules. The goal was to cultivate technical skills in solar photovoltaic installation, maintenance, and energy monitoring, enabling vocational schools to serve as local centers for clean energy education. This collaboration aligns with UNNES’s effort to create a network of renewable energy learning hubs across Central Java.
The Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, UNNES, emphasized that these programs are not merely technical trainings but also part of a broader public pledge to accelerate Indonesia’s transition to renewable energy. By introducing renewable energy concepts and technologies at the school level, UNNES fosters public understanding of clean energy’s benefits and nurtures a generation that supports sustainable power solutions. These initiatives also demonstrate UNNES’s proactive engagement with communities outside the university, contributing to a wider societal shift toward energy efficiency and sustainability.
Through these partnerships, UNNES actively promotes the use of solar energy, energy-efficient technologies, and IoT-based monitoring systems to ensure the efficient management of renewable power. The initiatives have inspired several participating schools to integrate solar energy modules into their curriculum and explore on-campus solar installations. In doing so, UNNES not only extends its academic expertise but also strengthens its advocacy for a 100% renewable energy future.
By combining technological innovation, community engagement, and educational outreach, UNNES demonstrates that its commitment to renewable energy extends well beyond its campus borders. These efforts mark another milestone in the university’s journey toward achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 and reaffirm its role as a catalyst for sustainable transformation in Indonesia’s energy landscape.
