IPB University student initiates ‘Fuellution’, a solution to reduce air pollution and create renewable energy

Fuellution, an idea from IPB University students in the Student Creativity Program team of Written Futuristic Ideas (PKM-GFT) has qualified for the National Student Science Week (Pimnas). The 36th Pimnas will take place at Padjadjaran University, Bandung, on November 26th – December 1st, 2023.

This idea was developed by the Fuellution team consisting of three IPB University students from the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), namely Seliani Fitria Mukti, Faris Adam and Aulia Ardhian Ayuningtyas. The team was accompanied by Dr Syaefudin as the lecturer.

GFT Fuellution PKM team leader, Seliani Fitria Mukti, said the idea was motivated by the issue of air pollution which is increasing every year. At the same time, Indonesia’s petroleum reserves are running low.

Based on IQAir’s World Air Quality Report 2023, Jakarta is on the list of ten cities with the worst air quality in the world. Such poor air quality can lead to various potential respiratory infectious diseases.

“Fuellution is an industrial area that converts pollution into energy consisting of five areas, namely the Industrial Area, Product Distribution Center, Smart Agriculture Center, Solar Farm, and Research and Data Center,” Seliani said.

She further explained, in the Industrial Area there is an Air Filtration Tower using Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to capture and filter air pollution around the industrial area.

This area is connected underground to convert the filtered pollutants into renewable energy in the Pollutant Conversion Center unit. “The energy that has been formed will be subjected to quality control in the Product Distribution Center area for distribution,” she added.

She also added that the Smart Agriculture Center area contains plants that can absorb carbon dioxide that still exists around the area. Meanwhile, the energy source for the Fuellution area comes from solar panels located in the Solar Farm area.

“All Fuellution areas are integrated by IoT which will be controlled and loaded with information systems in the Research and Data Center area,” she said.

Seliani hopes, “Hopefully this Fuellution can be implemented in various industrial areas nationwide so that it can improve clean air in Indonesia, help reduce climate change and increase energy reserves in Indonesia.” (*/Rz) (IAAS/NVA)