Maryam, Founder of CV Cahaya Inklusi

Maryam | Photo by: Jefri Tarigan

Within Indonesia’s social landscape, I see gender, disability, and environmental issues often appear side by side, yet they are still frequently treated as separate challenges. For me, and for many women with disabilities living in rural areas such as Wonosobo, Central Java, these three issues are deeply interconnected and form very real structural inequalities. As national development continues to accelerate, my lived experience shows that not all citizens are moving forward at the same pace.

Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that there are approximately 22.97 million persons with disabilities in Indonesia, or about 8.5 percent of the total population. However, this figure is not matched by the fulfillment of basic rights. Based on my experience and observation, access to education, employment, and social participation remains very limited. Only around 2.8 percent of persons with disabilities complete higher education, while participation in the labour market is also low. Many survive in the informal sector without social protection, and nearly 90 percent are not recorded as part of the active workforce. These statistics are not merely numbers. They represent the daily realities faced by me and my community.

This situation remains far from the country’s commitments. Law Number 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities clearly positions the state as the primary entity responsible for fulfilling our rights, including the rights to education, employment, and accessibility. Articles 18 and 19 guarantee equal accessibility and public services. Yet, based on my experience, the implementation of these policies has barely been felt, especially at the local level.

I have experienced these gaps firsthand. I have encountered government buildings without ramps, public transportation that is inaccessible to persons with disabilities, and service facilities that do not consider diverse user needs. Even for basic administrative matters, I often had to rely on assistance from others due to the absence of fundamental access. These experiences made me realize that public infrastructure development still lacks an inclusive perspective.

This awareness encouraged me to join the Indonesian Women with Disabilities Association (HWDI) in 2017. There, I found a space to share experiences and collectively advocate for our rights. Many women with disabilities grow up in environments that limit their life choices, including access to education and skills development. I witnessed how available options were often narrowly directed based solely on physical conditions, rather than on individual potential and aspirations.

Maryam and her team. Photo by: Jefri Tarigan

Together with the organization, I began engaging in more systematic advocacy. We held consultations with various local government agencies, participated in public consultation forums, and directly conveyed the urgency of inclusive infrastructure development. In 2017, out of dozens of public service buildings in our region, only a small portion had disability-friendly facilities, and many of them still failed to meet technical standards. I personally observed how facilities were built merely to fulfill administrative obligations, without considering safety or ease of use. In fact, Minister of Public Works and Housing Regulation Number 14/PRT/M/2017 has clearly outlined accessibility standards for persons with disabilities.

Change began to emerge when disability groups were more actively involved in policymaking processes. In 2023, through an Indonesia–Australia partnership program focused on inclusive infrastructure, I was directly involved in developing procedures for inspecting public service buildings. For the first time, the perspective of persons with disabilities became part of the recommendations for issuing Certificates of Feasible Building Function.

Building on these experiences, the initiative to establish CV Cahaya Inklusi emerged in September 2023. Through CV Cahaya Inklusi, we conducted assessments of 42 public service buildings and found that around 80 percent did not meet accessibility standards. For me, these findings confirm that infrastructure development still requires fundamental correction to truly achieve fairness.

From this assessment process, an innovation in portable ramps was developed, designed based on direct user experience. This innovation not only addresses accessibility challenges, but also opened my awareness to the connection between disability and environmental issues. In rural areas, I observed that wood waste from cooking activities is often discarded into rivers, polluting the environment. We then processed this waste into low-emission materials for portable ramps, creating dual benefits: improved accessibility and reduced environmental impact.

This approach aligns with the direction of national development policies. The National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2020–2024 emphasizes inclusive and sustainable development, as well as strengthening community participation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in reducing inequality and addressing climate change. Beyond improving accessibility and environmental protection, this waste processing initiative also generates economic value for rural households. Waste that previously held no value now becomes an additional source of income and encourages behavioural change in environmental management.

My experience in Wonosobo shows that solutions to disability and environmental challenges do not always depend on large-scale projects. Policy commitment, consistency in implementation, and partnerships with local communities are key factors. Local governments that create participatory spaces and involve persons with disabilities in assessment processes provide good practices that should be replicated. Approaches like this deserve greater attention and should be mainstreamed in many other regions.

Future challenges are likely to grow as budget efficiency policies are implemented by both central and local governments. From my observation, under fiscal pressure, support for community initiatives and civil society organizations tends to shrink. Meanwhile, the RPJMN explicitly emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Budget efficiency must therefore prioritize collaborative strategies so that inclusion initiatives that have been gradually built can grow stronger.

For me, this experience reinforces that inclusion cannot stop at the level of regulation. It requires sustained policy commitment, serious implementation, and recognition that citizens, including vulnerable groups, are partners in development. Mainstreaming the perspectives of women and persons with disabilities is essential in development planning and implementation, so that social justice, as mandated by the Constitution, can be fully realized down to the local level.

CV Cahaya Inklusi is one of the startups nurtured through the KINETIK NEX program. KINETIK NEX is an initiative implemented by New Energy Nexus in collaboration with KINETIK, the Australia–Indonesia Climate, Renewable Energy, and Infrastructure Partnership, a flagship program aimed at fostering Indonesia’s green economy and accelerating the energy transition.

KINETIK NEX promotes inclusive growth by supporting clean energy and climate technology startups in Indonesia. It is designed to empower local innovators, create green jobs, and deliver climate solutions beyond major urban centers, supporting bold ideas for a prosperous Indonesia and a sustainable planet.

Published on: Media Indonesia E-paper, IDN Times, and Harian Fajar

Five journalists from across Indonesia have been recognised for their reporting on green entrepreneurship and climate innovation through the KINETIK NEX Media Awards, announced on National Press Day on February 9, 2026. Each winner received an award and a prize of IDR 5 million in recognition of their contributions to advancing public understanding of clean energy and climate solutions.

The winning journalists are:

Highlighting solutions through journalism

The five winners were selected from a group of 15 journalists who participated in the KINETIK NEX journalist training program. The training introduced solutions journalism approaches that highlight how local climate and energy startups contribute to Indonesia’s just energy transition. As part of the program, each journalist was paired with a startup from the KINETIK NEX Entrepreneurs’ Program. They conducted in-depth interviews with founders to explore their challenges, breakthroughs, community impact, and potential for scale.

Tahnia Allauddin, Second Secretary Climate and Infrastructure at the Australian Embassy, said she was pleased to celebrate quality journalism that contributed to public awareness of renewable energy, climate action and inclusive economic development. “These issues are all very close to our hearts in the KINETIK partnership, which is the Australia-Indonesia Climate, Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Partnership,” she said.

“KINETIK is … investing in Indonesian businesses that focus on clean energy and climate change and also supporting earlier stage climate startups that are championing local solutions for the challenges that are brought by climate change.”

Stories that go beyond technical narratives

Journalist and editor at IDN Times, Dhana Kencana, one of the competition judges, said the evaluation focused on depth of reporting, clarity of storytelling, originality, accuracy, use of data, and potential impact on public understanding.

“These five best works did more than meet journalistic standards. They found the ‘soul’ behind the technical issues of clean energy and climate,” Dhana said. He noted that the winning stories captured a wide range of climate and development challenges, including energy access in frontier and disadvantaged regions, biodiversity opportunities, grassroots circular economy practices, and the resilience of young innovators.

According to Dhana, the winning stories demonstrate that climate and clean energy topics can resonate strongly with public audiences. “In their hands, these issues became stories about hope, solutions to poverty, business opportunities, and food sovereignty,” he said.

Exploring climate innovation through field reporting

One of the winners, Meidella Syahni from Mongabay Indonesia, said she joined the training to strengthen her reporting approach by incorporating solutions-focused perspectives. “I’ve been writing environmental stories since 2017, and many of them focus on recurring environmental problems,” Della said.

Through the program, she profiled Algatech Nusantara, a company researching microalgae as a carbon capture solution with potential applications in food and energy. “They have been working on this research since the 1980s, and the potential is enormous. But they still face limited support,” she said. “Through this article, I hope more people become aware of their work and support their development.”

Youth innovation driving the energy transition

Another award recipient, Lilik Darmawan from Media Indonesia, highlighted STB Pellet, a startup founded by university students in Madiun, East Java, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The startup converts agricultural and industrial waste into biomass pellets as an alternative fuel to coal.

Lilik said the idea was inspired by a landfill fire incident that prompted the students to rethink waste. “They asked a simple but powerful question: if waste can burn, why can’t it be transformed into fuel?” he said. He added that his story emphasised the role of youth-driven initiatives in advancing Indonesia’s energy transition.

The role of journalism in driving public understanding

KINETIK Director John Brownlee said journalism could help people have a clearer picture of what initiatives to tackle climate change and support a just green transition are all about. Stories like these show that despite challenges, positive change is possible. “Stories like these genuinely show that this is something important. That change can happen not just from high level policies and in large businesses, but can also grow from the grassroots.”

The International Day of Clean Energy is an annual reminder that the energy transition needs to be fast. But it also has to be fair; communities and livelihoods are at stake, and no one should be left behind.

Around the world, clean energy entrepreneurs are proving that the energy shift and social impact can go hand in hand. They are building solutions, training the next generation, and connecting technology to real needs.

Having backed over 10,000 entrepreneurs over the last two decades, we’ve seen this every day. From training local solar installers to deploying innovative cooling systems, supporting founders means helping ideas turn into tangible change that strengthens communities and powers a just, resilient clean energy future.

Here are a few examples:

1. Sunstruck Solar Solutions (Philippines)

Training the next generation of solar installers

After 22 years working on oil barges, Henry Cequina shifted to clean energy, founding Sunstruck Solar Solutions, which has installed over 7 MWp of solar power across the Philippines.

But Henry didn’t stop at deployment. He’s now partnered with New Energy Nexus Philippines’ New Energy Academy to strengthen both technical and business skills. Today, Sunstruck helps train the next generation of solar installers and entrepreneurs across the region, building local capacity while supporting the clean energy transition.

“What I saw as a big gap in Davao… is the lack of certified solar installers, and also the lack of training providers. What really made me decide to become a training partner… is to standardize installations here,” said Henry Cequina, founder of Sunstruck Solar Solutions, Inc.

By investing in skills alongside infrastructure, Sunstruck ensures the transition creates durable livelihoods rather than just megawatts.

Henry Cequina, founder of Sunstruck Solar Solutions, Inc., facilitating a New Energy Academy training session in Davao City, Philippines.

2. Volto SEA (Indonesia)

Cheaper, more efficient boat motors for fisherfolk

For fishing communities on Bungin Island, rising fuel prices and unreliable cold storage have long eaten into incomes. Volto SEA introduced electric outboard motors designed for small-scale fishers, lowering operating costs and protecting the marine environment.

“The sea is the heartbeat of life in Bungin [Island]. By replacing fossil fuel engines with electric motors, we’re not just offering innovation—we’re honoring the maritime way of life and supporting a more sustainable future,” said Yindy Kurniawan, CEO of Volto SEA.

Backed by New Energy Nexus Indonesia, Volto SEA demonstrates that clean energy can strengthen traditional livelihoods while supporting long-term resilience.

Yindy Kurniawan, CEO of Volto Sea, developed the electric outboard motor for Lelepa boats through a collaboration with New Energy Nexus. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

3. SunSawang (Thailand)

Empowering border communities with solar energy

Salinee Hurley, founder of SunSawang, has broken through the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs to deliver solar solutions to off-grid communities along the Thailand–Myanmar border.

SunSawang’s model empowers local families to adopt solar power sustainably, trains community members as technicians, and fosters long-term energy independence.

“Free installations may help in the short term, but the real goal is to empower people to access energy independently in the long run,” said Salinee Hurley, founder of SunSawang.

By centering communities and building local skills, SunSawang shows that equity and energy access go hand in hand. SunSwang is supported by New Energy Nexus Thailand through the SolarSTEP program

Salinee Hurley. Photo from SunSawang

4. Community Energy Labs (United States – California)

Optimized heating and cooling for schools and public buildings

Buildings generate roughly 40 percent of global carbon emissions. Community Energy Labs, alumni of New Energy Nexus California’s CalSEED program, helps schools and public buildings cut energy costs with “self-driving” systems that continuously optimize heating and cooling.

“Our technology takes something that feels really hard to a lot of building operators… complex, expensive, and very frustrating… and turns it into a hands-off solution. It saves time, money, and hassle,” said Tanya Barham, CEO of Community Energy Labs.

Savings can flow back into communities, showing that climate action can support social priorities while cutting emissions.

Community Energy Labs at Sonora Elementary.

Empowering entrepreneurs to lead the transition

Across sectors and geographies, these founders share a common thread: they build clean energy solutions that work for people. New Energy Nexus provides the training, mentorship, connections, and funding founders need to scale responsibly. Through accelerators, programs like the New Energy Academy, and access to global networks, we help turn bold ideas into real-world impact.

These stories show a clear lesson: the transition succeeds fastest when it is inclusive, grounded, and built with communities at its core.

Grow clean energy solutions with your community. Explore our programs and get support at join-nex.co/programs

Bungin Island, the second most densely populated island in the world. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Life on Bungin Island in Indonesia’s Sumbawa Regency can be challenging. With 2,338 people per square kilometer, it’s one of the most densely populated islands in the world. Meanwhile, the residing Bajo Tribe—the world’s largest remaining community of sea nomads—depends almost entirely on the ocean for income. The island has 1,020 to 1,113 active fishers today, all of whom rely on fishing as their main source of livelihood.

But rising fuel prices, unreliable cold storage, and dependence on costly diesel-powered equipment are putting intense financial pressure on the community. Spoilage, long-standing infrastructure gaps, and unstable operating costs are shrinking margins for fishers at a time when every kilogram of catch matters. Globally, weak cold chain systems are known to drive post-harvest losses and depress incomes for small-scale fishers, a challenge documented by the FAO,[1] both of which highlight renewable-powered cold chains as a pathway to higher incomes and reduced losses.

To help address these economic vulnerabilities, New Energy Nexus (NEX) Indonesia partnered with local startups Olat Maras Power and Volto Sea to launch a community-led clean energy pilot focused on strengthening the fishing economy. By introducing solar-powered cold storage units and electric outboard motors, the project aims to reduce losses, stabilize costs, and support the livelihoods of Bungin’s fishers.

Karyadi has reduced his operational costs by 50% after converting his Lelepa boat from a fossil fuel engine to a Volto Sea electric outboard motor. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Ismail, one of the local fishers using the Volto Sea electric outboard motor. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

This pilot is part of a larger NEX Indonesia-led initiative supporting Indonesia’s coastal and marine sectors through community outreach, capacity building, and scalable clean energy innovations that directly improve local economic conditions.

“We’ve seen firsthand how much loss fisherfolks experience due to inadequate storage,” said Nova Aryanto, CEO of Olat Maras Power, which deployed 12 solar-powered cold storage units on the island. “Our solar cold storage helps maintain catch quality and cuts daily operating costs. Fishers can save up to IDR 30 million and reduce up to 12.5 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.”

Olat Maras Power has converted the cold storage unit to be powered by three energy sources: grid electricity, batteries, and solar panels. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Nova Aryanto, CEO of Olat Maras Power, collaborates with Volto Sea to establish a battery charging station for electric outboard motors on Bungin Island. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Previously, fish collectors on Bungin were losing up to 1.2 tons of fish during the peak season due to spoilage, putting a major financial burden on families whose income depends on selling each day’s catch. With solar-powered cold storage, catch quality is preserved longer, waste is reduced, and profits become more predictable.

Meanwhile, Volto Sea, a Bali-based startup that develops clean maritime technology, introduced electric outboard motors to replace expensive fuel-powered engines.

“The sea is the heartbeat of life in Bungin,” said Volto Sea CEO Yindy Kurniawan. “By replacing fossil fuel engines with electric motors, we’re not just offering innovation—we’re honoring the maritime way of life and supporting a more sustainable future.”

Yindy Kurniawan, CEO of Volto Sea, developed the electric outboard motor for Lelepa boats through a collaboration with New Energy Nexus. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Switching to electric motors offers fishers major financial relief, with potential annual savings of up to IDR 37 million (US$2,225) per fisher.

The pilot is not only about introducing hardware. For the transition to work, communities must be aware of the benefits, equipped to use the technology, and actively involved in the process. With support from Manussa Consulting, the project began with a feasibility study involving more than 50 respondents and 22 stakeholders, including fishers, aquaculture operators, small businesses, and village leaders. The study highlighted high energy costs, low awareness of alternatives, and infrastructure limitations as key barriers holding communities back.

To address these constraints, the team rolled out workshops, product demonstrations, and public awareness activities. A hybrid-powered charging hub is also being piloted to provide accessible, renewable energy for both cold storage units and electric motors, reducing long-term dependence on costly fossil fuels.

“Introducing electric boats and solar-powered cold storage is a timely response to the economic vulnerabilities and climate crisis impacting Indonesia’s coastal regions,” said Kevin Felix, Senior Program Associate at New Energy Nexus Indonesia. “Together with a hybrid charging hub, these technologies can drive real change, building resilience and improving quality of life for fishing communities.”

For Bungin’s residents, the impact is already tangible.

“We welcome this program as a first step toward building an energy-independent and environmentally friendly coastal village,” said Jaelani, Head of Bungin Village. “This isn’t just about technology—it’s about securing the future for our children and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our local economy.”

Pilot test of Volto Sea’s electric outboard motor. The boat can carry 2–3 people. Photo by Mas Agung Wilis Yudha Bhaskoro

Looking ahead, NEX Indonesia and its partners are developing pathways to help communities adopt these solutions at scale. Flexible financing schemes, youth engagement programs, and collaborations with government agencies are all in the works to expand this model to other coastal areas across Sumbawa and beyond.

As the sun rises over the waters of Sumbawa, so does the hope for a clean energy future: powered by local innovation, supported by global partnerships, and grounded in the everyday lives of its many island communities.

References:

[1] Improved post-harvest practices for fish loss and waste reduction | FAO; and Hidden Harvest: The Global Contribution of Capture Fisheries | World Bank