Sophisticated Euy! Urban Farming in Bandung Uses Solar Energy

Bandung – Sophisticated, man! That word describes the farming process in Buaruan Sehat Alami Ekonomis (SAE) P2L Riyadhul Jannah which is located in Demarekesh Housing, Derwati, Rancasari District, Bandung City.
It does not require many Human Resources (HR) in this urban farming location, everything uses technology, from watering vegetables which is controlled using a cellphone and can be done remotely, to the electricity source used using solar cells or called solar farming.

By using this renewable technology, the farming process in this urban farming location is more efficient and environmentally friendly. In addition, it can save the national electricity supply.

The solar farming technology applied in this urban farming location is in collaboration with PT Surya Energi Indotama or a subsidiary of PT Len.

"We collaborate with technological improvements that work with PT Len and several experts from residents who have scientific specifications and apply them in agriculture," said DKM Riyadhul Jannah Mosque, Aston to detikcom, Thursday (10/14/2021).

"In the past, agriculture was just hoeing and everyone could do it. But how can technology be applied so that it gives the impression that we call it smart farming," he added.

Aston said, just by holding a mobile phone, the electricity network that uses solar cells and watering vegetables can be done, even remotely as long as our mobile phone is connected to the internet network.

"Smart farming is a delivery using technology, coincidentally what we have implemented is watering and utilizing electrical energy resources, which we usually use PLN, now using a renewal, namely solar panels," he said.

Aston said, there are many advantages to using this solar cell, one of which is the efficiency of electrical energy.

"The advantage is the efficiency of power usage, which we have been using PLN electricity, we can save without using PLN power. Economical in power usage," he said.

However, with the area of ​​urban farming in the mosque location, according to him, there must be 5 solar cells installed to meet its electricity needs.

"Producing 250 watts, ideally the capacity of all of these is 5 panels, because this is just a prototype in terms of implementing this technology, it can be appropriate, we are only using it with a limited scope, after the application can be tested, if this is successful we will cooperate with PT Len to increase its power, now one is only for watering within a radius of 20 meters, while we have 200 meters left and right," he explained.

Indra Budi Utomo, one of PT Len's mentors for this urban farming location, said that the source of electricity used for automatic watering comes from solar energy.

"The solar panels here are a hybrid system, all controlled through a solar power inverter, entering the inverter and conditioned to enter the battery bank, now from the battery bank there is a 220 volt output. This is used to drive the pump, there are two pumps from the reservoir pond to the tower and from the tower to the booster pump to distribute water," said Indra.

Indra said, the electricity source generated from solar cells is more economical compared to using PLN electricity.

"This is more economical than using PLN cables, this can be applied anywhere for its users. This can be an example, we utilize the regency pool and use this green energy technology," he said.

Indra also said, there is no need to worry if the weather is cloudy because there is a battery bank so there is a source of electricity stored.

"If it's not hot, for example like this we have a battery bank safety factor of 1.2 KW, where the pump itself has a capacity of 250 watts, while for watering a maximum of one hour, meaning that from the battery itself it can last for 2-3 days to run for one hour per day, for example today it's cloudy but the battery was charged yesterday, this is no problem," he explained.

The application of technology at the urban farming location was appreciated by the Mayor of Bandung Oded M Danial.

"That's what I'm very proud of, because it was born and realized from the idea of ​​Bandung City residents who are technology literate and carried out directly in their respective areas," said Oded.

Oded asked other Nandung City residents to apply the use of technology at their urban farming locations.

"I hope this can be replicated in other areas, so that Bandung can become a city, even though Bandung is a metropolitan city but its urban farming affairs are cool," he concluded.

(source: https://www.deik.com/)