Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | April 17, 2023 | Worcester Business Journal 9 Cost of power, in rural Indonesia Power source Price per kwh Diesel generator $0.30-$0.50 Solar array $0.16 Gravitational water vortex power plant $0.03-$0.08 Source: 360Energy along with two or three other homes. e technology is an alternative to the diesel generators most Indonesian businesses rely on, said Riy, who is 360Energy's executive director. e generators and the diesel to power them are expensive. Solar is an alternative, but implementing solar technology costs 16.5 cents per kilowatt hour, said Riy, while using the Guppy costs 3 to 8 cents per kilowatt hour. Riy envisions as the power grid expands into more rural areas, farmers using the Guppy device could sell surplus electricity back to the grid. e system is made so it can employ a local supply chain and can be maintained locally. Since installing the Guppy on his fish farm, Sumarna's yield has increased by 250%, said Riy. Sumarna's village is not unusual in its lack of access to power. According to a 2021 U.N. report, 30 million of the 267 million population of Indonesia lacked adequate access to electricity. Slamet is working on a remote monitoring system for the Guppies in conjunction with the Indonesian economic development organization IBEKA, which operates larger renewable electricity microgrids. ose could be complementary to 360Energy's projects. Riy looks at the big picture beyond Sumarna's fish farm. e rural villages are home to many small and medium- sized businesses. Helping to develop these communities helps to develop the larger Indonesian economy, the 10th largest in the world, according to the World Bank. e country's economy is expected to grow into the fourth largest in the world between 2030 and 2050. "ey're at a tipping point in industrializing their village," Riy said. "ese small village economies are really the backbone of the future economy of Indonesia, and I think the same model could be applied to similar emerging economies." Collaborating for success e leadership team at 360Energy said the company's progress wouldn't have been possible without the support from WPI, Clark, and the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Minerals. is included DeJesus fighting for the group to be accepted into the Tinkerbox program. e next step for 360Energy at WPI is the innovation and entrepreneurship fellowship program, which is usually for older students or alumni. e program will give the team at 360Energy further opportunities for mentorship and collaboration. DeJesus hopes bringing the young entrepreneurs together with more experienced innovators will lead to a cross pollination of ideas, as collaboration is important for entrepreneurship, she said. "We are able to create a platform (for 360Energy)," said DeJesus, who hopes other students developing technology in the Tinkerbox program might be able to create tangential technology to help 360Energy's mission. DeJesus admires Riy's ability to get people excited about the project. "His passion is palpable. You get sucked into his stories," she said. "He has the maturity to look at the big picture." e students' vision is certainly expansive, observing and acting on a problem almost 10,000 miles away from their campuses in Worcester. W Clinical Positions (Scan the QR Code) Healthcare Positions: (Scan the QR Code) Opportunity Awaits. The diverse and dedicated staff of Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates care for people with disabilities and life challenges. Our extensive benefits for full-time positions include: • 3 weeks vacation, 3 personal days, 48 hrs. sick time, and 10+ holidays. • Up to 83% toward a health insurance premium • Low-cost dental and voluntary vision insurance. • Employer-paid life and long-term disability insurance. • Tuition assistance and a robust network of 10 higher education partners. Apply for a Clinical or Healthcare position, today, and join our team! CONTACT: Jean Witter Torres 508.579.7931 • jwitter@sevenhills.org APPLY ONLINE: Scan the QR Codes or visit sevenhills.org/careers/destination-seven-hills • Certified Nursing Assistants • Registered Nurses • Licensed Practical Nurses • Occupational Therapists • Adoption Case Management • BCBA • Licensed & License-eligible Clinicians • In-home Therapists • Therapeutic Mentors • Therapeutic Recreational Therapists • Registered Behavior Technicians • Clinical Coordinators • Clinical Admissions Coordinators • Physical Therapist Aides • Direct Support Professionals • Dietary Aides • School Nurses Members of 360Energy look over the implementation of their project with Indonesian officials.

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