In the bustling city of Bandar Lampung, Indonesia, a humble wet noodle producer is making waves in the energy sector. Mie Cepet Ibu Rubiyem, a micro-small-medium enterprise (MSME), is the unlikely hero in a story that intertwines traditional food production with cutting-edge environmental science. The tale begins with a life cycle assessment (LCA) of their wet noodle products, conducted by Aditya Wahyu Nugraha, a researcher from the Agricultural Industrial Engineering Study Program at the Sumatera Institute of Technology.
Wet noodles, a popular local delicacy, undergo a boiling process before hitting the market. This process, while simple, generates waste and emissions that can have significant environmental impacts. Nugraha’s research, published in the Journal of Agricultural Industrial Technology, delves into these impacts, measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, acidification, and eutrophication. The findings are eye-opening, with each kilogram of wet noodles producing 4.72×10-1 kgCO2eq of GHG, 1.82 x 10-5 kgSO2eq of acidifying substances, and 5.97 x 10-3 kgPO43-eq of eutrophying agents.
But Nugraha’s work doesn’t stop at identifying the problem. He offers a roadmap for improvement, with recommendations that could revolutionize the energy sector’s approach to MSMEs. “The potential for renewable energy in these small-scale industries is immense,” Nugraha asserts. “By adopting off-grid solar power plants, they can significantly reduce their environmental footprint.”
The proposed solutions are as innovative as they are practical. Substituting renewable energy sources, using electric vehicles (EVs) for transportation, converting wastewater into liquid organic fertilizer, and selling solid waste as livestock feed—each of these steps could dramatically reduce the environmental impact of wet noodle production. For instance, off-grid solar power plants could slash GHG emissions by 0.19%, acidification by 63.1%, and eutrophication by 79.5%. Meanwhile, converting wastewater into fertilizer could cut GHG emissions by a staggering 78.4%.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. MSMEs, often overlooked in the push for sustainability, could become key players in the transition to renewable energy. By providing tailored solutions, the energy sector can help these small businesses reduce their environmental impact while also lowering operational costs. This is not just about saving the planet; it’s about creating a more sustainable and profitable future for businesses like Mie Cepet Ibu Rubiyem.
Nugraha’s research, published in the Journal of Agricultural Industrial Technology, is a call to action. It challenges the energy sector to think beyond the usual suspects and to see the potential in the smallest of players. As the world grapples with climate change, every kilogram of CO2eq counts. And in Bandar Lampung, a humble wet noodle producer is showing the way forward. The energy sector would do well to take note.
