As night falls, not every residential area has adequate street lighting. This remains a challenge for residents of RT 45, Jalan Soekarno-Hatta Kilometer 24, Karang Joang Village, North Balikpapan District. The hilly terrain, its considerable distance from downtown Balikpapan, and uneven infrastructure development have left several neighborhood roads poorly lit. As a result, nighttime activities become less comfortable and may pose safety risks to the community.

In response to these conditions, the ASTERIA Social Innovation Group (Insos) of the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) launched a Solar-Powered Public Street Lighting (PJUTS) installation program. This initiative represents the students' commitment to community service by combining social responsibility with renewable energy technology. In addition to improving public facilities, the use of solar energy promotes environmentally friendly and sustainable energy utilization.

The program began with an opening ceremony and community outreach session on April 19, 2026, at GKP Hosana Church, Karang Joang. The event was attended by local residents, neighborhood leaders, faculty supervisors, and the entire ASTERIA team. During the session, the team introduced the program's objectives and discussed the community's lighting needs. Together with residents, they then conducted a field survey to identify the locations that required additional lighting the most.

Collaboration became one of the key strengths of the program. On May 16, 2026, the ASTERIA team and local residents worked together to clean the installation sites. This effort ensured that the solar panels would receive optimal sunlight exposure, allowing the lighting system to generate energy efficiently. The active involvement of the community throughout every stage of the project demonstrated that the success of a community service initiative depends not only on technology but also on strong community participation.

The installation of the solar-powered street lights was carried out in two phases. The first phase took place on May 23, 2026, with the installation of four lighting units, followed by the second phase on May 30, 2026, during which six additional units were installed. In total, 10 Solar-Powered Public Street Lights (PJUTS) were successfully installed at strategic locations that had previously lacked sufficient lighting. Upon completion of the installation, the team finalized the project by painting the "ITK 26" identity on each lighting pole on June 13, 2026, marking the completion of the community service program.

The program concluded with a closing ceremony held once again at GKP Hosana Church, Karang Joang. During the event, the ASTERIA team provided residents with guidance on the proper use, maintenance, and care of the solar-powered lighting system to ensure its long-term sustainability. Community members were also encouraged to protect the shared facilities by ensuring that the solar panels remain unobstructed by trees or other objects, allowing them to receive maximum sunlight. These efforts are expected to extend the lifespan of the lighting system while fostering a sense of community ownership.

The ASTERIA Social Innovation Program was supervised by Dea Dita Krisnasari, S.T., M.T., Melati Salma, S.Ds., M.T., and Riski Arif Mardika, S.ST., M.T. The implementation team consisted of Sehan Tri Mukhtiar (Industrial Engineering), Dafa Cetta Ugama, Hasan Ibrahim, Muhammad Rafi Musyaffa, and Zefanya Emmanuela Simanjuntak (Safety Engineering), Einstivania Gabriella Mustika, Hana Sabrina, Izza Nafila, and Karina Dewi Chandra (Logistics Engineering), as well as Rifqah Khalishah (Visual Communication Design). This multidisciplinary collaboration demonstrates how diverse expertise can come together to address real community challenges.

Through the ASTERIA Social Innovation Program, ITK students have not only provided street lighting facilities for the community but have also demonstrated how science and technology can be applied to solve real-world problems. The installation of 10 solar-powered street lights in RT 45, Karang Joang, is expected to improve public safety, comfort, and quality of life while serving as an example of renewable energy utilization that supports sustainable development in East Kalimantan.