PORTALJABAR, SUBANG REGENCY - The West Java Provincial Government together with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) developed Mobile Cold Storage Solar Powered as a means of storing and preserving fish caught by fishermen with a solar-powered cooling system in Subang Regency.

This innovation is an implementation of the off-grid renewable energy (EBT) system funded by the 2024 Competitive Grant funding.

This initiative was also carried out together with the Mandiri Mina Fajar Sidik Village Unit Cooperative (KUD) of Blanakan Village, Blanakan District, Subang Regency.

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin revealed that Blanakan Village is one of the potential areas for the West Java fisheries sector.

Therefore, according to him, it is right for the West Java Provincial Government together with educational institutions such as ITB to develop innovations that have a real impact on society and currently being developed is Mobile Cold Storage (MCS) based on solar cells .

"In essence, what we hope for is cooperation between the West Java Provincial Government and educational institutions (ITB) to improve the welfare of the people," said Bey Machmudin in Blanakan Village, Monday ( 3/2/2025 ).

With a minimum temperature of 0 to -5 degrees Celsius, MCS can store up to three tons of fish caught by fishermen. This facility also has a capacity of 7.2 KWp Off-Grid PLTS and a battery capacity of 20 KWAh.

"Earlier we saw that there was a Mobile Cold Storage for three tons and the KUD Chairman acknowledged that it was very useful because it helped fishermen to store their catch," he said.

"So it can increase the storage period, no need to sell it quickly. If it is sold in a hurry, the price can go down," said Bey.

In the future, Bey continued, his party together with ITB will replicate MCS at other points in West Java.

"Maybe it can be done together with companies with CSR ( Corporate Social Responsibility ). The Head of the West Java Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service will also go to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to get more assistance," he said.

In this way, the Solar Powered MCS will have a positive impact on the fisheries industry chain in West Java because it can ease the burden on fishermen and fishermen's cooperatives in the operational distribution of fish catches.

"I think this is something that should be emulated elsewhere," Bey said.

In addition, Bey also had a dialogue with several Blanakan fishermen. He also listened to and accommodated the aspirations of the fishermen, one of which was about road repairs in the Blanakan area to facilitate the movement of people or goods.

ITB Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Prof. Brian Yuliarto expressed ITB's pride in being able to work with the West Java Provincial Government to help with real problems in the field.

He hopes that ITB's research can really be useful for society. For example, by presenting this Mobile Cold Storage Solar Powered.

"This is free maintenance , the maintenance is light. We have also trained the workforce here. Hopefully it can ease the burden on residents and ultimately improve the welfare of the community," said Brian.

Head of the West Java Province Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Service, Ai Saadiyah Dwidaningsih, said that West Java has the potential for new and renewable energy (EBT), and EBT should be utilized for all sectors, including this time in the fisheries sector.

MCS Benefits

Some of the advantages of using MCS include reducing emissions by up to 8.62 tons of CO2Eq per year. Then saving a 3 kW 2 liter generator per hour worth Rp141,474,000 per year.

Other benefits include savings in PLN electricity with TDL of Rp1699.53/kWh or Rp15,112,220 per year, as well as savings for fishermen with the MCS of 3 tons, assuming storage costs of Rp150/kg or Rp164,250,000 per year.

"So I think this initiative is very good, hopefully this can be done massively," said Ai.

Head of the West Java Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Service, Hermansyah Manap, said that storage facilities for fishermen's catches are one of the basic needs in the fisheries sector.

"Moreover, it is very active here. During the fishing season, which is around six months every year, the production is very large here. If there is no cold storage , the fish caught must be sold immediately, but the price at that time is very low," said Hermansyah.

"So usually the fishing boat operations are not closed to catch fish. With the existence of cold storage , fishermen can store it first so that the price of fish does not fall," he said.

The chairman of KUD Mina Fajar Sidik Blanakan Dasam said that with the presence of cold storage , the quality of the fish is well maintained.

"So that from the storage process to marketing, the quality of the fish is maintained," said Dasam.