������Ƶ

I-CAST, one of five competitions within PGD UI 2025, is a prestigious event that brings together students from diverse disciplines and countries to compete in developing innovative solutions addressing global industrial challenges. Participants are tasked with integrating engineering knowledge with principles of environmental sustainability, economic impact, social empowerment, and cultural considerations to tackle issues faced by the global industry.

In this competition, the team proposed a hybrid biochar fertilizer production concept through the co-pyrolysis of palm oil biomass waste. This waste was supplemented with inorganic fertilizer and the microbe Azotobacter chroococcum to enhance the final product's quality.

“In this competition, we focused not only on the product but also designed an integrated heat utilization and electricity generation system to maximize overall energy efficiency as a sustainable solution by combining environmental, technological, and socio-economic aspects,” explained Reiner.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Fauzan shared that his interest in participating in I-CAST stemmed from the competition’s focus on biomass pyrolysis, which closely aligns with his thesis topic and plant design project. Although differences exist in raw materials and operating temperatures, the core principles remain within the same scope.

“Besides the topic similarity, our team saw this competition as an opportunity to deepen our understanding and support our academic research. Especially as we near the end of our studies, this competition provides valuable experience before entering the professional world,” said Ahmad Fauzan.

Under the guidance of Dr. Yazid Bindar and Dr. Anriansyah Renggaman, the Orion Team successfully developed a solid concept that led to their achievement.

Wildan emphasized the importance of designing solutions that are not only innovative but also realistically implementable. He advised seeking mentors aligned with the topic to sharpen the solution’s direction and establishing strong team communication from the outset.

“Don’t just aim for impressive ideas; ensure they are feasible technologically, economically, and in other respects,” he stated.

For the Orion Team, competitions like this are not just about winning but also valuable opportunities to learn, collaborate, and deepen their engineering knowledge.

Reporter: Indira Akmalia Hendri (Urban and Regional Planning, 2021)

Translator: Atika Widya Nurfaizah (Postharvest Technology, 2021)