Renewable Energy from Municipal Waste-to-Energy Systems for Supporting Green Campus Development in Indonesia: Sustainability Assessment of The Putri Cempo RDF Gasification Plant

Abstract

Municipal solid waste management and renewable energy development are increasingly linked through Waste-to-Energy (WtE) systems. This study evaluates the contribution of the Putri Cempo RDF Gasification facility in Surakarta, Indonesia, to Green Campus implementation at Universitas Sebelas Maret. A qualitative case study integrating sustainability assessment, policy review and SWOT analysis was undertaken using operational records, institutional documents and international literature. The facility processes about 545 tonnes of municipal waste per day and generates 8 MW of electricity, approximately 5 MW of which is exported to the national grid. Beyond reducing landfill dependence and greenhouse gas emissions, the facility functions as a living laboratory supporting interdisciplinary education, research and university-government collaboration. The study proposes an integrated framework linking WtE infrastructure, circular economy, renewable energy transition and Green Campus governance. The findings demonstrate that municipal WtE systems can simultaneously strengthen climate mitigation, renewable energy deployment and sustainability-oriented higher education.