Jakarta (ANTARA) - A student team from Politeknik Negeri Medan\n(Polmed) has introduced a portable solar-powered cold storage system\ndesigned for disaster response and emergency food security at Kampung\nDalam Village, Aceh Tamiang.<\/p>\n
The students are part of a group of 5,040 students from 36 higher\neducation institutions contributing to post-disaster recovery efforts in\nAceh through the Impact Student Programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe from Politeknik Negeri Medan have been entrusted with\nimplementing this programme in Aceh Tamiang through solar-powered cold\nstorage innovation. With technology that has undergone research and\ntesting in various regions, this equipment is expected to function\noptimally even during power outages, supporting food storage for MSMEs\nand providing real benefits to the community,\u201d said Supriyanto, chief\nlecturer and Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at\nPolmed.<\/p>\n
Relying on solar energy, the system addresses emergency needs whilst\nreducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions.<\/p>\n
Polmed student Riska Aini Putri explained that the cold storage\nsystem also works in partnership with local catering MSMEs that daily\nproduce food for sale to residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also collaborate with catering MSMEs. Recently, they produced\napproximately 4,000 portions of takjil. With this cold storage, food\ningredients and cooked meals can be safely stored, including during\npower outages, so MSME activities can continue running,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
MSME operator Suri Julianti echoed these sentiments, highlighting the\npositive impact of the solar-powered cold storage on business continuity\nand local economic activity.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very grateful to the students. With the solar-powered cold\nstorage, we are greatly helped in storing food ingredients to keep them\nfresh and prevent spoilage. We can also operate our business with peace\nof mind even when electricity is unstable, allowing us to run our\noperations more steadily after being affected by the disaster,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>\n
I Ketut Adnyana, Director of Research and Community Service at the\nDirectorate General of Research and Development, emphasised that the\n2026 Impact Student Programme represents part of a transformation in\nhigher education to be more contextual and responsive to community\nneeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents and government will continue to stand alongside\ncommunities. The presence of students is expected to provide hope and\noptimism for communities to recover from hardship and strengthen the\nconviction that future life will improve through utilising the potential\nand technology available in Aceh Tamiang. This is tangible evidence of\nhigher education making an impact,\u201d Adnyana said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/polmed-students-deploy-solar-powered-refrigerator-for-food-security-in-aceh-tamiang-1772182848", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }