Behavioural transition within the nexus of energy and livelihoods in Bali

The idea was born when Putu, a farmer and the head of a farmers’ association, asked, “How can we make biomass wood pellets?” He asked this question during the recent Udayana University Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Little did Putu know that this question would lead to his next local business venture.

On the 20 April, Udayana University held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with government agencies, the private sector and the local community in the Jembrana regency Bali, Indonesia. The FGD brought together these stakeholders to help with the generation and collection of information in the bioenergy sector. The discussion focused on feedstock, stakeholders, policy and business potential, particularly the potential of biomass and biogas.

Brought together through the FGD, Putu, who is both a farmer and a business owner in the furniture industry, seized the opportunity to discuss his ideas with fellow stakeholders. One such stakeholder was Halmadi, a government officer in the Energy Division. Halmadi will be retiring in two years, but first he wants to lay the framework for sustainable businesses that help empower his community. Putu discussed with Hamaldi the business potential in industrial waste for biomass wood pellets.

Since the FDG brought them together, now Putu and Hamaldi are joining in a partnership. The FGD fostered this budding, innovative local business. The FGD aims to help the Jembrana people to identify further business opportunities which contribute to sustainably providing energy and alleviating poverty in the region.

Currently, there are 20 community groups which are utilising wood pellet stoves as an alternative cooking technology. The government is also running several biogas programmes for the community. The GREEN-WIN project is helping this community via social learning programmes such as this FGD. In the long term, it will also contribute to the behavioural transition within the nexus of energy poverty eradication and resilient livelihoods in Bali.