A team of lecturers from the Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) conducted a Community Service Program (PkM) titled “Wood Waste Conversion Technology as Wood Pellet Fuel (Productive Energy from Low-Cost Lumber Extraction Techniques) through a Fuel Wood Stove Prototype for the Community in Tadukan Raga Village, STM Hilir District, Deli Serdang Regency.”
The activity was led by Ir. Rivaldi Sidabutar, S.T., M.T. as team leader, with members Ir. Muhammad Thoriq Al-Fath, S.T., M.T., Ir. Nisaul Fadillah Dalimunthe, S.T., M.Eng., and Ir. Gina Cynthia Raphita Hasibuan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D. The program also involved six Chemical Engineering students from USU as part of experiential learning implementation.
As part of this initiative, the team not only provided technical training but also designed and delivered a “fuel wood” stove prototype as a combustion medium for wood pellets. The stove, developed at the USU Chemical Engineering Ecology Laboratory, features an efficient, environmentally friendly design optimized for ease of use by local residents.
Approximately 20 participants, comprising local woodcraft artisans and small business owners—attended the training sessions, which covered wood pellet production, stove operation, and equipment maintenance for sustainable utilization.
Through this program, Tadukan Raga Village has emerged as a model for innovation in renewable energy management based on wood waste. The initiative serves as tangible evidence of Universitas Sumatera Utara’s commitment to applying scientific knowledge to address local energy and environmental challenges. It is expected to raise community awareness on the importance of clean and sustainable energy utilization while simultaneously creating new economic opportunities in rural areas.