SOLAR ICE BOOSTS INDONESIAN SMALL-SCALE TUNA FISHERS

Solar ice boosts Indonesian small-scale tuna fishers. One year on: the solar innovation that’s powering coastal livelihoods in Eastern Indonesia.

Locals harvest over 176 tonnes of ice from an Indonesian-manufactured ice maker within 12 months of its launch, giving them access to reliable refrigeration, lowering emissions and cutting plastic pollution.

Key highlights

• 176 tonnes of ice produced in the first year — an average of 16 tonnes per month
• 223,520 plastic bags (2+ tonnes of plastic) avoided by eliminating single-use ice packaging
• 4,290 litres of diesel replaced with solar energy
• 40 tonnes of CO₂ emissions prevented annually
• US $120,000 added to the fishery value chain

A prototype solar-powered ice maker in Maluku, East Indonesia, is delivering significant environmental and economic benefits to small-scale tuna fishers and their families. The technology addresses one of the biggest challenges facing small-scale fishers in coastal fishing communities: reliable access to ice. Ice is vital for fishers whose livelihoods depend on being able to supply high quality fish to buyers, often thousands of miles away. Like many fishers in remote communities, those in Kawa previously relied on ice produced in home freezers and supplied in plastic bags. These supplies were often threatened by frequent power outages.

Over the past year, the solar ice maker has produced a total of 176 tonnes of ice, an average of 16 tonnes per month. The steady supply is benefiting not only Kawa’s local fishers but also neighbouring communities. The project demonstrates how renewable innovation can strengthen fisheries and coastal communities while reducing emissions and plastic waste.

Installed in late 2024 through a partnership between the International Pole & Line Foundation (IPNLF),The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ Indonesia), PT. Aneka Sumber Tata Bahari PT (ASTB), Dinas Kelautan dan Perikanan Provinsi Maluku

(DKP Maluku) and AIREF, and endorsed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan  (KKP). UNDP’s Ocean Innovation Challenge selected IPNLF Indonesia from over 300 applicants in 2022 to develop the solution.

The availability of affordable, longer-lasting ice has improved the quality of fish landed and allows fishers to be at sea for longer catching more fish. The system has also reduced operational costs by eliminating the need for expensive, externally-sourced ice. By making ice consistently available within the village, the system has reduced the need for travel to other communities and reduced household costs.

The project has also contributed to waste reduction, with an estimated 223,520 plastic bags avoided at the community level by eliminating the need for ice packaging.

By replacing diesel-generated ice production with solar power, the Kawa system has avoided the use of 4,290 litres of diesel fuel and prevented 40 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

In addition to the installation of the ice maker, the community also received training in fish handling best practices to further improve quality. This had the impact of giving them environmental advantages over industrial fishers, reducing fish and plastic waste and cutting costs.

Additional project outcomes include:

• 80 fishers trained in fish handling

• 50 fishers receiving safety at sea training

• 9 vessel trackers installed to improve data collection for traceability

Commenting on the data, Ismail Noval, Sustainable Fisheries Officer, IPNLF, said:

“We’re delighted to see how the community in Kawa has embraced the solar ice maker. This project is a great example of international and local collaboration in action, showing how joined-up thinking across the value chain can deliver real impact. The innovation has improved fishers’ access to market, lowered environmental impacts, and reduced costs for local fishers — helping these vital producers secure a stronger foothold in the market.”

Frank Stegmüller, Lead Industry Decarbonisation & Energy Island Solutions, GIZ, added:

“What we see here is a revolution in the making. Locally available solar energy now freezes water into ice – preserving fish quality and preventing post-harvest losses across the fishery supply chain.

“We completely replaced fuel for electricity generation and at the same time added US $120,000 per year to the value chain, without the additional ice would have been lost. This makes it a great business case – aside from its environmental and socio-economic advantages. We thank our partners who believed in the idea and are happy to see its impact after one year of successful operation.”