What Is Green Technology? Benefits, Adaptation, and Examples

Did you know that energy and human activities can emit carbon emissions, worsening global warming? Thus, some efforts like clean energy and green technology must be widely implemented for a greener Earth.

This article discusses green technology, its benefits, and its implementation. To get to know more, read the explanation below!

What Is Green Technology?

Green technology is an innovation combining technology and science to create environmentally friendly products and services.

Green technology or clean technology also refers to products and services aiming to increase operational performance as well as reduce energy consumption, cost, negative impact on the environment, and waste.

Then, why does green technology matter? It aims to create an innovation utilized for various activities without impacting the environment.

It also aims to protect the environment, preserve natural resources, and repair the damaged environment. Moreover, green technology has become the company objective noted on Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG).

The rapid and positive development of green technology makes it a prospective investment and attracts great capital. Statista reported that in 2023, investment in energy transition technology globally reached USD 1,769 billion. The most investment made is in electric vehicles and renewable energy.

Green Technology Adaptations

Green technology is a wide term including various types of environmental preservation using technology. Some of the adaptations are as follows:

1. Alternative Energy

Alternative energy helps humans to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Some alternative energies that can be used are wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal power.

In Indonesia, alternative energy is fully supported by the government. In 2024, the Indonesian Government targeted the accumulated installed capacity of solar panels was 770.7 MW.

2. Sustainable Agriculture

The next type of green technology is sustainable agriculture. Agriculture activities need water and cost. In addition, pesticides and animal waste pollute the environment.

As a result, many parties have developed green technology in this field, such as the development of organic agricultural methods and meat alternatives.

3. Electric Vehicles

The transportation sector has contributed to high carbon emissions and pollution, worsening the climate condition of the Earth. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the transportation sector contributed to 44% of pollutants in Indonesia.

For that reason, electric vehicles can be one of the solutions to reduce carbon emissions. Using electricity, this vehicle is considered more efficient and environmentally friendly than conventional vehicles.

4. Carbon Capture and Storage

Carbon capture and storage is a technology developed to remove greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion process or the atmosphere.

5. Resources Recycling

Material recycling can protect scarce resources by using alternative and sustainable materials. For example, spare parts, metals, papers, glasses, and plastics can be recycled into raw materials.

The Benefits of Green Technology

The innovation in green technology offers various advantages for humans and the environment, such as:

1. Ensuring that Technology Development Remains Eco-Friendly

The first benefit is ensuring that technology development aligns with environmental conservation. Thus, even though technology is getting more advanced as time goes by, it does not lead to environmental damage.

Furthermore, it is better that the technology developed can help protect the environment, such as using energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

2. Reducing Reliance on Non-Renewable Energy

Using green technology can reduce reliance on non-renewable energy contributing to global warming and climate change. It is also possible to save fossil fuels, which are hard to replenish, by using renewable or alternative energy.

3. Lowering the Extraction of New Resources

By recycling components into raw materials for production, the process of extracting new natural resources for industry and manufacturing can be reduced. This will help conserve natural resources.

Example of Green Technology in Indonesia

Green technology has been implemented by humans and companies. In addition, as mentioned before, green technology has been noted in company ESG.

One of the companies in Indonesia that has implemented green technology is the Chandra Asri Group. The leading chemical, energy, and infrastructure solution company in Southeast Asia has several initiatives in green technology, such as:

Electric Forklift: For the factory’s operational process, Chandra Asri Group uses 61 units of electric forklifts.
Electric Bus: Chandra Asri Group uses two units of electric buses for transporting employees.
Solar Panel: Chandra Asri Group uses solar panels with an increasing usage capacity of 82.29%.
Green Building: The Admin Building OPE at the Ciwandan Plant in Cilegon has exceeded standards for green building operations, design efficiency, and material use efficiency.
Eco-Friendly BFR Plant: Chandra Asri Group operates an environmentally friendly bag film roll (BFR) factory with an efficient air cooler, advanced technology for noise canceling, and coolants that are free of ozone-depleting substances.

Aside from those, Chandra Asri Group through its subsidiary, Krakatau Chandra Energi, serves solar panel installation with four methods: on-grid, off-grid, hybrid, and on-grid with battery back-up system.

This is the information about green energy. As the technology develops, it should be easier to protect the environment. The application of green technology proves that technology can be used to make the Earth greener.