Renewable energy technologies at medium technical schools in Indonesia
Major achievements during the 3 years cooperation between Technical Education and Training Centre (TEDC), Bandung regarding the integration of renewable energy technologies in the medium technical schools (SMK) in Indonesia
By: Drs. H.E.B. Kamphuis, Manager Technical training Programme ETC Foundation at Leusden (ETC/TTP) and drs. Iman Permana, Head Institutional Development and Lecturer Technical Education and Training Centre (TEDC) at Bandung
SUMMARY
This article gives the major achievements during the 3 years cooperation between Technical Education and Training Centre (TEDC), Bandung regarding the integration of renewable energy technologies in the medium technical schools (SMK) in Indonesia. This cooperation has taken shape within the framework of the already long existing Bilateral Energy Cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands (BECIN[1]). During the 3 years cooperation the renewable energy technologies micro hydro power, solar photovoltaic, wind energy and domestic biogas have been introduced in SMK. For these technologies new school curricula were developed and validated, training modules for SMK teachers and students elaborated, and cooperation realised with pilot SMK to test these curricula and modules. The cooperation between TEDC and ETC/TTP will be enlarged as part of the CASINDO project[2].
INTRODUCTION
The importance of the use of renewable energy sources in Indonesia has been increasing stressed by the Indonesian Government. One has to cope with possible upcoming shortages of oil, but acknowledges at the same time that access to modern energy is a basic right for every citizen. Indonesia possesses a wide range of options for the use of renewable energy sources, which makes it possible to realistically reflect on new ways of energy generation.
Renewable energy solutions require their own knowledge development regarding alternatives and applications, which has to be initiated at Indonesia’s technical universities. Besides this, determining what type of energy generation is the most appropriate in what area (energy planning), the availability of sufficient technically skilled people, who are able to properly install and maintain renewable energy devises is a must. When reflecting on promoting renewable technology options, knowledge development, energy planning and the training of people have to go hand in hand.
This conviction was for BECIN key in supporting the introduction of renewable energy technologies in medium technical schools (SMK ), in combination with energy planning and knowledge development.
In this article the activities executed and achievements reached within the cooperation between TEDC and ETC/TTP are presented. The cooperation has taken shape in three separate yearly projects that were strongly interconnected by the same set of general objectives.
OBJECTIVES AND TARGET GROUPS OF THE PROJECTS
On the invitation of SenterNovem, ETC-Energy joined the 10th Energy Working Group Meeting on Lombok Island in November 2005, to reflect on the possible options for a project on the introduction of RET modules for the technical schools in Indonesia. SenterNovem invited ETC-Energy to submit a project proposal for this introduction on the technical schools. This was done for the period 2006/2007; thereafter yearly project proposals were submitted for the periods 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.
All yearly projects envisaged the creation of a positive environment for the development of the renewable energy sector in Indonesia and awareness towards decision-makers in the central and regional governments.
The Final Project goal within this intention was the establishment of regular Renewable Energy Technology (RET) modules in the SMK in Indonesia and on the Education and Training Centre for Energy and Electricity (ETCEE) of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
The Final target groups of all projects were the SMK students and teachers, and technical staff of ETCEE.
The Project Objectives concerned the preparation and training of SMK students as technicians, who are competent in operating, maintaining, repairing, designing, building and managing small-scale electric / energy facilities, which utilise renewable energy. The Project Objectives implied also the preparation and training of SMK teachers, who are competent in conducting the teaching-learning process on Renewable Energy for SMK students.
The direct project outputs (results) should serve the attainment of the project objectives by realising the Training of Trainers (ToT) for TEDC staff and the technical staff of ETCEE, as well as the training of SMK teachers on different RET. Another project output is the implementation of a Renewable Energy Program (REP) at four pilot SMK.
COVERED RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES 2006 – 2009
At the outset of the series of 3 projects (from 1st year, October 2006 onwards) three Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) were to get attention: Micro Hydro Power (MHP), Photo Voltaic Energy (PV), and Wind Energy. Per 15 September 2008 Biogas /bio mass as new RETs were added to these three. As Micro Hydro Power (MHP) and Photo Voltaic Energy (PV) have gotten attention during the 1st and 2nd year’s projects, the focus for the 3rd year project was to be put on bio gas / bio mass and wind energy.
KEY STAKEHOLDERS OF THE PROJECTS
During the period 2006 – 2009 the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR), the Ministry of Education (MoE), and 4 pilot SMK were key stakeholders of the project.
Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR)
From the outset of the activities geared to the introduction of Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) in the Indonesian, SMK MEMR has shown keen interest in guiding the content of the project (i.e. the choice for RET to be included in the project activities). This was done to address the introduction of RET at regional/provincial levels in view of the progressing decentralisation of energy planning processes and the inclusion of RET in these processes. For making the wider application of RET in the provinces locally available, the presence of technical skills for installing and maintaining RET facilities is a must. For this purpose the Ministry considers the incorporation of RET in the educational activities of the SMK as important.
Ministry of National Education (Direktorat Pembinaan SMK and dinas pendidikan provinsi, kota dan kabupaten -provincial educational bureau and city/district educational bureau-)
The Direktorat Pembinaan SMK (Vocational and Technical Schools) bears the overall responsibility for improving quantity and quality of all educational components of SMK in Indonesia (i.e. curriculae, competency standards, investments in schools, inspection). The Directorate has the final say in what way the curricula of the SMK are adapted to the emerging new needs in vocational education and training and is therefore vital for the realisation of the project’s intended outcome: the integration of RET in the SMK. For this the implication of the National Profession Certification Board (BNSP) in the process is also important, as well as contacts the decentralised structures of the Ministry of National Education (i.e. provincial educational bureau and city/district educational bureau, in which the planned pilot SMK operates).
Pilot SMK
The project cooperated with 4 pilot SMK. In this cooperation the testing of the developed curriculum and syllabus for SMK on micro hydro power, solar PV, wind energy, and bio gas / bio mass was envisaged.
TEDC established contact with 4 SMK that served as pilot schools: (a) SMKN 1 Tarogong Kaler Garut (West Java), (b) SMKN 2 Pengasih Kulonprogo (Yogyakarta), (c) SMKN 2 Kendari of Sulawesi Tenggarra, and (d) SMKN 2 Kuripan Lombok Barat (Nusa Tenggarra Barat).
PROJECT COORDINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
The Technical Education Development Centre (TEDC) served as the main implementation organisation of the projects- in Indonesia. The Centre is one of three Centres from the Indonesian Government to support the Indonesian Technical Education on Middle level (SMK). Since 2007 TEDC operates under the formal name Pusat Pengembangan dan Pemberdayaan Oendidik dan Tengana Kependidikan – Bidang Mesin dan Teknik Industri (Centre for Developing and Empowering Educators and Educational Staff in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering). In the international relations the name Technical Education Development Centre (TEDC) is still in use.
For all three project years TEDC was responsible for local introduction of the RET by carrying out training of students of its Career Centre, SMK teachers, and support pilot SMK students. For this the organisation has cooperated intensively with different experts in the areas of MHP, Solar PV, wind energy and domestic biogas. Each year TEDC had assigned a Team Leader and established a Core Team consisting of 6 – 10 staff members on yearly basis.
ETC’s Technical Training Program (ETC/TTP) functioned as the coordinating institute of the three projects over the period 2006 – 2009. ETC/TTP possesses wide and longstanding experience with formal technical training (i.e. oriented towards technical schools) in South East Asia and Africa in general and in Indonesia in particular. The Technical Training Program is part of the ETC Foundation[3] and provides assistance related to technical skills and knowledge training. ETC/TTP has implemented a wide range of technical training projects (about 25 on yearly basis). Within Indonesia ETC/TTP has carried out in the last 6 year about 20 projects with SMK (upgrading teachers, introduction new technologies).
ETC/TTP and TEDC worked closely together with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (and especially with the Directorate General for Electricity and Energy Utilisation –DGEEU) and the Netherlands Embassy, which was the main funder of the 3 projects.
SPECIFIC TECHNICAL INPUTS
For the development of curricula and training modules TEDC needed to get specific technical inputs per each RET to be covered. ETC/TTP was from the outset of the projects involved in the mobilisation of the technical expertise needed for the provision of these inputs to the TEDC core team. Restricted tender procedures resulted in the selection of expert companies that had specific expertise in the different RETs on which was focused during the period 2006 – 2010. PT Entec, a Swiss/Indonesian company, involved in various energy projects in Indonesia was selected as the company responsible for direct technical inputs in MHP and was later involved in the mobilisation and guidance of Indonesian technical expertise on PV solar and wind energy. Based on the approval of the selection by SenterNovem the experts have been contracted.
REALISED OUTPUTS
During the period 2006 – 2009 of different outputs have been realised to bring the introduction of RET in SMK closer.
Before the curricula for SMK teachers and students TEDC staff was trained in the technical aspects of the RETs MHP, solar PV, wind energy and domestic biogas. These trainings were executed by different Indonesian experts (PT Entec, BIRU -Biogas Rumah-/Indonesia Domestic Biogas Programme, several subject experts) and were for 50% of theoretical character and 50% very practical. The practical part has mainly taken place in on the job training sessions. In these trainings TEDC’s staff members participated (per each RET a special core team), but also students of TEDC’s career Centre and staff members of ETCERE (Education and Training Centre for Energy and Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources).
Based on these trainings the different TEDC core for each RET developed a vast range of teaching materials. For Micro Hydro Power (MHP) curricula for SMK teacher and SMK students training have been completed and validated by external experts. A total of 9 modules for SMK teachers were elaborated and 24 modules for SMK students. For solar PV also the curricula have been completed: 8 modules for SMK teachers were completed and 9 modules for SMK students. For wind energy curricula for SMK teachers and students were developed and 4 general modules: these modules need to be differentiated later to teachers training and students training. The same counts for the RET domestic biogas.
The TEDC RET core teams have, besides the elaboration of curricula and learning modules, been involved in various discussions with the Ministry of National Education (in particular the Direktorat Pembinaan SMK) regarding the formal integration of RET in the Indonesian SMK. TEDC participated for that purpose in the national platform for curriculum development for SMK (Programme Spectrum) to develop concrete options for the integration of RET in SMK. This resulted in the request of the Direktorat Pembinaan SMK to submit a comprehensive proposal for this purpose within the 1st quarter of 2010.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The cooperation established between TEDC and ETC/TTP during the period 2006 – 2009 will be continued under the new CASINDO project. Within this framework the different RET applications under biomass will be highlighted, as well as questions of energy efficiency. Based on the experiences with the pilot schools, cooperation with in total 11 SMK in 5 provinces will be established. The consistent guidance given by SenterNovem, but also the open cooperation between TEDC, ETC/TTP, the different experts, MEMR and the Direktorat Pembinaan SMK have really contributed to the realisation of the different outputs of the RET projects.
December 2009
Launch of the NCAP book: The Adaptation Continuum