About Goals
The Affordable and Clean Energy program aims to promote the use of affordable renewable energy in Indonesia. Therefore, we work with governments, companies and communities to develop sustainable solutions to meet the need for clean and affordable energy. The "Affordable and Clean Energy at the Universitas Sumatera Utara" program is aimed at reducing university dependence on conventional energy sources and switching to energy sources that are affordable and environmentally friendly. We are committed to implementing renewable energy solutions, such as solar panels, geothermal energy, and energy efficiency technologies in our campus buildings. Through this program, we also organize educational campaigns about the benefits of using clean energy and how to adopt it in everyday life. We strive to engage university students and staff in renewable energy projects, as well as provide training and opportunities to participate in energy-saving focused initiatives.
Universitas Sumatera Utara's Action to the SDGs
University Measures Towards Affordable and Clean Energy
Energy-Efficient Renovation and Building
USU ensures all new constructions and renovations comply with energy efficiency and green building standards established under the Green Campus Policy (Rector’s Regulation No. 3 of 2019) and reinforced by Rector’s Circular Letter No. 1 of 2023 on achieving a green, sustainable, and carbon-neutral campus by 2029. The policy mandates the integration of energy-efficient design and operational principles in every project through: (i) passive design features such as full-daylighting, natural ventilation, and insulation;(ii) smart-building automation systems for lighting, air conditioning, and fi re safety; (iii)use of energy-efficient equipment like LEDs, inverter ACs, and low-energy fixtures; and (iv)renewable energy systems, including solar PV and solar lighting. Currently, ~38% of floor area applies smart systems and 25–50% uses efficient fixtures, reflecting measurable progress.
Upgrade Buildings to Higher Energy Efficiency
USU has an institution-wide, funded program to retrofit existing buildings for higher energy efficiency under its Green Campus framework and renovation policies. Guided by Rector’s Regulation No. 3 of 2019, the initiative prioritizes upgrading existing infrastructure through Smart Classroom systems (including thermostats, occupancy/daylight sensors, real-time energy metering, full LED lighting, and efficient audio-visual equipment) and expansion of Building Automation Systems, now covering 83,988 m² (~38% of total floor area). In 2024, dedicated budgets include Rp100 million for Smart Classroom retrofits, Rp225 million for solar lighting upgrades, and Rp36.9 billion for maintenance and repair works. The university embeds green-building elements in all projects and ensures that over75% of total floor area is maintained annually to meet energy efficiency targets.
Carbon Reduction and Emission Reduction Process
USU operates an integrated carbon management and reduction framework that supports its carbon-neutrality target by 2029.The process is formalized through the Rector’s Circular on Environmental Management and implemented through a plan–implement–monitor–improve cycle. Key actions include: (i)annual carbon-footprint assessment (734tCO₂/year or <0.10 tCO₂ per capita) following IPCC-based methodologies; (ii) Scope 1–3emission tracking and ICT-based energy monitoring; (iii) smart-building and renewable energy systems (~38% of total area; solar, wind, and pico-hydro covering ~1.85% of total use); and (iv) low-carbon transport initiatives, including free campus shuttle services, zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) such as bicycles and e-motorcycles, maintaining a very low vehicle-to-population ratio. Complementary nature-based solutions, including retention ponds and tree-planting programs, enhance carbon sequestration and community.
Plan to Reduce Energy Consumption
USU implements a comprehensive energy efficiency plan as part of its Green Campus policy (Rector’s Regulation No. 3/2019) and Rector’s Circular Letter No. 1/2023, aligning with the goal of a carbon-neutral campus by 2029. The plan outlines systematic reductions in electricity use across all operations, integrating energy-efficient technologies, renewable sources, and digital monitoring systems. Implementation includes Smart Classroom retrofits with thermostats, motion sensors, and automatic lighting; LED replacement across major buildings; and rooftop solar lighting for pathways and bus shelters. Smart-building coverage reaches 83,988 m² (~38% of total floor area), and annual electricity use (803,081 kWh) is tracked through ICT-based systems. The Bureau of Asset and Business Management conducts audits to evaluate performance, ensuring continuous reduction and behavioral change toward sustainable energy use.
Energy Wastage Identification
Universitas Sumatera Utara conducts systematic energy reviews to identify high-consumption areas and minimize wastage across its campuses. This process is coordinated by the Asset and Business Management Bureau through ICT-based monitoring and auditing systems, aligned with Rector’s Regulation No. 3/2019 (Green Campus Policy). Reviews cover utility billing data, equipment life cycles, and asset performance, enabling evidence-based decisions for retrofitting and replacement. The university’s Building Automation System provides real-time control of lighting and air-conditioning across 83,988 m² of floor area, while annual electricity use (803,081 kWh; <279 kWh per person) is tracked for efficiency benchmarking. Regular energy audits assess building-level intensity, identify improvement opportunities, and support continuous optimization toward USU’s sustainability and energy efficiency objectives.
Divestment Policy
USU has integrated a carbon divestment and green finance policy within its Green Campus framework, formalized under Rector’s Regulation No. 3/2019 and the 2023 Rector’s Circular. The policy directs a gradual withdrawal of institutional investments from carbon-intensive sectors, particularly coal and oil, and promotes reinvestment into low-carbon and renewable energy assets, green infrastructure, and sustainable enterprises. Operationally, this transition is managed by the Asset and Business Management Bureau(BPAU), which prioritizes energy-efficient procurement, locally sourced low-impact materials, and renewable infrastructure projects. The 2024 Green Campus workplan allocates funds for solar installations, charging stations, and energy innovation projects, aligning university investments with its carbon-neutrality goal by 2029 and broader sustainability transition.
Energy Use Density
Total Energy Used (Gj)
2,984GJ
University Floor Space (m2)
270,736m²
Energy and The Community
Local Community Outreach For Energy Efficiency
USU provides regular community programmes promoting awareness and practical skills on energy efficiency and clean energy, aligned with Affordable and Clean Energy objective. These initiatives are conducted through community service , the SDGs Center, and the Institute for Research and Community Service. Programmes include solar PV street-lighting training for villagers in Desa Lingga, Karo, household-scale biogas development in Tadukan Raga, Deli Serdang, and pico-hydro demonstrations in Desa Payung, teaching renewable energy operation and maintenance. USU also hosts seminars, workshops, and clean-energy campaigns in collaboration with State Electricity Company Icon Plus, strengthening green-energy literacy. In 2024,USU recorded 122 community projects, ,involving students and local partners in hands-on sustainable energy education.
100% Renewable Energy Pledge
USU actively promotes public engagement and advocacy toward 100% renewable energy, in line with its carbon-neutrality goal by 2029 as stated in Rector’s Circular Letter No. 1/2023 and the Green Campus Policy. The university integrates this pledge through outreach, education, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Public initiatives include the Sustainable Renewable Energy Seminar, which convened academics, policymakers, and communities to advance renewable energy transitions across Sumatra. In partnership with State Electricity Company Icon Plus, USU conducts joint awareness campaigns, workshops, and training programs promoting solar, hydropower, and biogas solutions for rural areas. The Society of Renewable Energy further drives youth-led dialogues and petitions advocating renewable adoption. Collectively, these actions reinforce USU’s leadership in fostering a regional renewable energy movement beyond its campus boundaries.
Energy Efficiency Services for Industry
USU provides direct technical and research-based services to local industries and community enterprises to advance energy efficiency and clean energy. These services combine applied research, workshops, and innovation pilots that translate academic solutions into practical use. USU’s initiatives include energy audits and training for SMEs, 1kW pico-hydro installations supporting rural agribusiness in Desa Payung, and solar PV demonstrations for public lighting and productive uses. Through waste-to-energy programmes, USU experts conduct plastic pyrolysis fuel recovery and biodiesel production from spent coffee grounds, while biogas integration in palm-oil operations enhances clean-energy efficiency in rural value chains. Delivered through Community Service Institution and industry collaborations like State Electricity Company Icon Plus, these programs strengthen regional energy innovation and environmental responsibility.
Policy Development For Clean Energy Technology
USU plays an active role in supporting government policy development related to clean energy and energy-efficient technologies, primarily through education, research, and advisory engagement. The SDGs Center serves as the main institutional platform delivering national-level training, policy briefs, and technical consultations for government stakeholders. USU provides applied technical data and capacity-building derived from campus projects in solar PV, pico-/micro-hydro, and smart-building systems, which inform regional and national energy-efficiency frameworks. Collaborative initiatives with provincial and local governments address issues such as waste-to-energy, flood-risk management, and GHG inventories, supporting evidence-based policy formulation. Through its integration of outreach, innovation, and expert advisory roles, USU translates scientific findings into actionable strategies for sustainable governance and national energy transition.
Assistance to Low-Carbon Innovation
USU provides structured support for start-ups advancing low-carbon technologies and circular-economy solutions through the Business & Product Research Incubator. This unit coordinates innovation management, technology transfer, and commercialization of lecturer- and student-led innovations focused on sustainability. As of 2024, USU has documented over 15 sustainability-oriented start-ups and 3 spin-off s, several of which directly target renewable energy, waste valorization, and eco-materials. Examples include Tescla (renewable micro-generation systems), smart PV waste-to-energy, biodegradable packaging, reusable beeswax food wrap, and sensor-based wastewater treatment. Supported through innovation grants and mentoring programs, these ventures demonstrate USU’s strong institutional role in fostering green entrepreneurship and low-carbon innovation ecosystems across North Sumatra.
Low Carbon Energy Use
Total Energy Used (Gj)
2,984GJ
Total Energy Used from Lowcarbon Sources (Gj)
147GJ
SDGs Articles
Activities
PRIORITY STATEMENTS
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Research and Publications
Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Production Optimization in an Educational Building Using the Supported Vector Machine and Ant Colony System
Anupong W., Muda I., AbdulAmeer S.A., Al-Kharsan I.H., Alviz-Meza A., Cárdenas-Escrocia Y.
Controlled Growth of Semiconducting ZnO Nanorods for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting-Based Nanogenerators
Abubakar S., Tan S.T., Liew J.Y.C., Talib Z.A., Sivasubramanian R., Vaithilingam C.A., Indira S.S., Oh W.-C., Siburian R., Sagadevan S., Paiman S.
Redesign of iron for assembly cost and time reduction using DFA
Ginting R., Silalahi R.
Stability of mesoporous silica using ricinoleic methyl ester as a template with the addition of HCl and application of Cd2+ adsorption optimized by Box-Behnken design
Andriayani N., Marpongahtun N., Muis Y., Pakpahan J., Daulay A.
A STUDY ON CELLULOSE FROM OIL PALM BIOMASS AS A SOURCE OF BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION
Sitinjak E.M., Masmur I., Sitanggang Y., Pratikha R.S., Nainggolan F., Yatasya F.A., Afandi T., Tarigan K., Hutajulu P.E., Destty N.V.M., Gultom G.
Fabrication and characterization of hybrid eco-friendly high methoxyl pectin/gelatin/TiO2/curcumin (PGTC) nanocomposite biofilms for salmon fillet packaging
Candra A., Tsai H.-C., Saragi I.R., Hu C.-C., Yu W.-T., Krishnamoorthi R., Hong Z.-X., Lai J.-Y.
A Study of the Three-Body Abrasive Wear Resistance of 5V/5Nb-5Cr-5Mo-5W-5Co-Fe Multicomponent Cast Alloys with Different Carbon Percentages
Purba R.H., Shimizu K., Kusumoto K., Gaqi Y., Huq M.J.
Optimization of State of the Art Fuzzy-Based Machine Learning Techniques for Total Dissolved Solids Prediction
Hijji M., Chen T.-C., Ayaz M., Abosinnee A.S., Muda I., Razoumny Y., Hatamiafkoueieh J.
Remediation of contaminated sand by Cd ions with variation operation: Batch and flushing column with foam and without foam of SDS surfactant
Haryanto B., Tambun R., Siswarni M.Z., Alexander V., Sinuhaji T.R.
The Use of Hybrid Solar Energy to Supply Electricity to Remote Areas: Advantages and Limitations
Rahardja U., Candra O., Tripathi A.K., Zahra M.M.A., Bashar B.S., Muda I., Dwijendra N.K.A., Aravindhan S., Sivaraman R.
Protection coordination analysis applied at biogas power generation plant
Siregar Y., Tjumar W., Mubarakah N., Dinzi R.
Comparison of Three-Body Abrasion Behaviors of High-Cr-Mo- and High-Cr-Based Multicomponent White Cast Irons
Purba R.H., Shimizu K., Kusumoto K., Gaqi Y.
Extraction of citronella oil from lemongrass (Cymbopogon winterianus) by sequential ultrasonic and microwave-assisted hydro-distillation
Sarah M., Ardiansyah D., Misran E., Madinah I.
THE INFLUENCE OF CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS (L.) G. DON. ETHANOL EXTRACT IN CLOVE OIL NANOEMULSION: PHYSICAL CHARACTERIZATION, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITIES
Laila L., Candra A., Permata Y.M., Prasetyo B.E.
Development of hybrid solar-assisted heat pump dryer for drying paddy
Yahya M., Fahmi H., Hasibuan R., Fudholi A.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Using N-Doped ZnO/Carbon Dot (N-ZnO/CD) Nanocomposites Derived from Organic Soybean
Ayu D.G., Gea S., Andriayani N., Telaumbanua D.J., Piliang A.F.R., Harahap M., Yen Z., Goei R., Tok A.I.Y.
CHROMIUM DOPED IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES PREPARED FROM LOGAS NATURAL SAND AND THEIR APPLICATION IN PHOTO-FENTON DEGRADATION OF METHYLENE BLUE DYE
Amiruddin E., Sinuraya S., Awaluddin A., Rianna M., Hadianto H., Rizki M., Purba N.M., Sitorus I.T.
THE EFFECT OF CHICKEN EGGSHELL (Gallus gallus domesticus) PARTICLE SIZE AS FILLER TO POLYESTER COMPOSITE AS MOTORCYCLE’S EXHAUST PIPE COVER MATERIAL
Vanessa V., Alvin A., Ginting M.H.S., Lubis M.
Fabrication of the novel hybridized AZ31B Mg/CeO2+ZrO2 composites via multiple pass friction stir processing
Li Y., Ojo O.O., Salman S., Paidar M., Refaai M.R.A., Zain A.M., Nasution M.K.M., Xin D.
Study and characterizations of NiCo2O4/rGO as candidate of supercapacitor electrodes material perfomance
Manalu A., Tarigan K., Humaidi S., Ginting M., Sebayang K., Hamid M., Rianna M., Subhan A., Sebayang P.
Preparation of Cu2O/ZnO nanocomposites for visible light photocatalytic activity for methylene blue degradation
Purba F.J., Tarigan K., Humaidi S., Sebayang K.
Electrochemical performance of sodium titanate nanorods for sodium-ion battery anode applications
Noer Z., Rahayu S.U., Marlina H.A., Handoko F., Rahardi S.S., Septawendar R., Sunendar B.
The analysis of tidal, wave, and swell of tidal flood incidence in Belawan on 17 October 2020
Marpaung C.O.N., Situmorang M., Sinambela M., Nasruddin M.N., Sembiring K., Tarigan K., Hartanto, Sugiyono
Synthesis and characterization of nanocomposites Fe3O4-ZnO
Siregar J., Yuliarto B., Sebayang K., Sitorus Z., Humaidi S.
Mixed integer nonlinear programming model for sustainable production planning and scheduling based on energy consumption
Butar-Butar T.K.N., Mawengkang H., Sitorus S.
A framework of nonparametric regression to predict natural gas demand
Sinaga R.F., Sutarman, Tulus, Darnius O., Mawengkang H.
Heat transfer in non-Newtonian fluid
Sirait S.V., Tulus, Mardiningsih
A constrained based approach for solving the multi-period single sourcing problem
Situmorang A.S., Mawengkang H., Tulus, Sitompul O.S.
The Performance Of An Earth-Air Heat Exchanger By Using A Solar Chimney
Saragi G.J., Sitorus T.B., Hutabarat W.O.D., Surbakti S.H.S., Purba J.S.
Experimental Study of An EAHE Combined with A Solar Collector and A Solar Panel
Surbakti S.H.S., Sitorus T.B., Purba J.S., Hutabarat W.O.D., Yudha G.J.
The neuroprotective effect of statin in traumatic brain injury: A systematic review
Susanto M., Pangihutan Siahaan A.M., Wirjomartani B.A., Setiawan H., Aryanti C., Michael
Distribution model of Iron (Fe) on Fe/Graphene Nano Sheets
Siburian R., Goei R., Manurung H., Aritonang S.P., Simanjuntak C., Hutagalung F., Anshori I., Alias Y., Paiman S., Affi J., Tok A.I.Y.
Effect of Variation in the Number of Inclined Type Blades and Flow Discharge on the Performance of a Vortex Turbine Using a Cylindrical Type Basin
Kamil I., Sitorus T.B., Ambarita H., Napitupulu F.H., Abdullah I., Sabri M.
Recycling heterogeneous catalyst waste in biodiesel production using methanol and hydrochloric acid: A case study on the washing effect with lauric acid as raw material
Burmana A.D., Tambun R., Haryanto B., Sarah M., Alexander V.
Extraction and Isolation of Cellulose Nanofibers from Carpet Wastes Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Approach
Nasution H., Yahya E.B., Abdul Khalil H.P.S., Shaah M.A., Suriani A.B., Mohamed A., Alfatah T., Abdullah C.K.
Physical Characteristics of Aceh Traditional Salt and Its Potential as Raw Material for Thermal Energy Storage
Gunawati, Humaidi S., Setiawan A., Sirait M., Jalil Z., Ramadhani N., Makruf A., Riskina S., Irhamni
Akreditasi Fasilkom-TI
