Poltesa Implements Solar-Powered Blower Innovation for Lemukutan Fishermen
Pontianak (ANTARA) - The Sambas State Polytechnic (Poltesa) campus in West Kalimantan has implemented solar-powered blower technology innovation for the Laut Biru Fishermen Group in Lemukutan Island Village, Bengkayang Regency, West Kalimantan, to facilitate the catching and drying of anchovies.
“This technology is the result of applied research titled ‘Portable Solar Panel Technology Innovation for Catching and Drying Anchovies in Lemukutan Island’,” said the Poltesa Research Team Leader, Pande Putu Agus Santoso, when contacted in Sambas on Wednesday.
He explained that the research was funded by the Poltesa DIPA Fund through the 2026 Applied Innovation Research Programme, Number 031/PL37/AL.04.03/PL/2026.
He expressed hope that the donated solar-powered blowers would be utilised and well-maintained by the fishermen’s group, particularly to assist in the anchovy drying process.
The handover was marked by the signing of the official minutes by Research Team Leader Pande Putu Agus Santoso, S.Pd., M.Sc., alongside the Head of Lemukutan Island Village, Ahmad Yusuf.
Beyond merely handing over the equipment, the team also provided training to the Laut Biru Fishermen Group regarding the operating principles, usage, and maintenance of the technology.
Pande explained that the operation of the blower is designed to be simple. Users only need to press an on-off button to start or stop the blower. The device also requires regular exposure to sunlight to ensure the battery remains charged and ready for use when needed.
The partners also received instructions regarding the maintenance of the solar panels. The panel surfaces should be cleaned using fresh water without detergent, then wiped regularly from top to bottom to remove dirt that could obstruct sunlight absorption.
The Head of Lemukutan Island Village, Ahmad Yusuf, appreciated the innovation developed by Poltesa. According to him, the solar-powered blower can provide significant benefits to the Laut Biru Fishermen Group, especially in assisting the anchovy drying process.
He also expressed his gratitude to Poltesa for choosing Lemukutan Island as the implementation site for their research results.
The village government hopes that collaboration with Poltesa will not end with this activity. Cooperation between universities and the community is expected to continue in order to address various needs in Lemukutan Island, ranging from the fisheries, tourism, and plantation sectors to energy and environmental cleanliness.
For the research team, the handover of the solar-powered blowers is part of an effort to bring research results out of workshops and laboratories so they can be directly utilised by the community.
The use of solar energy to support the anchovy drying process also demonstrates the potential of renewable energy as part of the development of appropriate technology for island communities.