Sedekah Energi light up mosque in Garut

MOSAIC-INDONESIA.COM, GARUT — Moslem for Shared Action on Climate Impact (MOSAIC) released the third Sedekah Energi project in Garut, West Java, Monday (24/3/2025). This program now located at Al Khoiriyah Mosque, Pondok Pesantren Manbaul Ulum, Karyasari Village, Garut Regency.

The program dedicated for the residents and santri pesantren (boarding school students) who have got solar panel training so that they can manage the instalation by themself. The chairman of Pondok Pesantren Manbaul Ulum Kyai Muhammad Sambas Assyafii expressed his gratitude for the solar panels program.

“The use of this solar power plant technology is expected to be a relevant solution to meet the needs of environmentally friendly energy in various sectors, especially in mosques and boarding schools and communities that are often affected by power cuts,” he said.

The application of this solar panel is also considered to make energy fulfillment flexible, fast, and practical. The boarding schools and mosques collaborating with MOSAIC have taken progressive steps by utilizing the roof for the installation of solar panels. “So it reduces reliance on conventional energy,” he said.

He said that in addition, this technology can saving costs. The program is also proof that boarding schools are open with technology and colaboration. Mainly to realize the resources of independent, progressive and modern santri and boarding schools.

MOSAIC Energy Alms Project Lead Elok F. Mutia said the program has actually been going on for the past few years. The selection of Al Khoiriyah mosque this year, according to him, began with a preliminary survey. “Also on the recommendation of Salman Garut House, which tells about the initiation from the community in Karyasari Village, in this Al Khoeriyah mosque,” he said.

He also confirmed that these solar panels come from the charity of people across Indonesia. He hopes that the public can take good care of it so that it can be used for the next 25 years. Power amounting to 5,750 WP has been generated by this power plant and is able to support electricity needs, not only for worship and social activities that exist in masjid and pondok pesantren, but also utilized for community activities of Karyasari Village.

One of them is to electrify tilapia aquaculture water pumps and hydroponic farming. This cultivation is part of a stunting alleviation program managed by BUMdes (Village's Enterprise).  More than 30 residents, village centers and equipment located around the mosque have received training, including nine women. Training is also carried out to institutions and village communities such as women empowerment,  Posyandu, Patkuy youth community, and peasant groups. They are involved and enthusiastic in studying how to utilize rooftop solar panel and how they can be involved in the maintenance and development of these instalation.

“We only have science to transmit and teach, yesterday a week we gave training to community representatives for installation and maintenance. I hope that this program can inspire Garut Regency, a sub-district, to the village to be interested in adopting the program and duplicating it in the surrounding mosques. Please help to be treated so that it lasts for 25 years without any obstacles,” Mutia said.

On a separate occasion, Vice Regent Garut drg. Hj. Luthfianisa Princess Karlina, M.BA expressed her support for the MOSAIC Energy Alms program. He estimated that electricity to mosques sourced from environmentally friendly solar panels would have an impact on Muslim places of worship.“Let's support good programs like this,” he said.

Representing the Government of Garut Regency in the event, Staff Expert in Social Affairs and Human Resources dr. Maskuda Farid also expressed appreciation to MOSAIC for the assistance the solar panels provided. “The charity of these solar panels can also be in agriculture to be more productive,” he said.

He also hopes that one of the goals of this program to educate the public can be realized because he believes that Manbaul Ulum boarding school has a good profile to be a pilot and this program can be replicated in various mosques and other boarding schools.

This year's Alms Energy Program is in its third and fourth implementation, after previously successfully presenting 100% renewable energy in two mosques, namely in Sembalun, Lombok, and Bantul, Yogyakarta. With a total capacity of 9,600 WP solar panels, in the first phase of the program has been supported by more than 5,000 donors through the itabisa.com platform.

In addition to providing electricity cost savings of up to Rp 39 million, the program also provides direct benefits to more than 1,000 people in the communities surrounding the mosque.