The Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are pervading modern businesses, and companies are jumping on the bandwagon for fear of getting left behind by the digital transformation. Being the forward-thinking businessman that he is, Malaysian entrepreneur Christien New has already laid out plans, which have been in the works since 2017, to use these modern technologies for his energy company.PT Bintan Power Plant, which he founded in 2002 and currently chairs, is a leading energy provider in Indonesia that reportedly generates 13,000MW of electricity to power nearly 15 million households across Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, New revealed plans to provide more affordable and sustainable energy to consumers using IoT and blockchain technology.“There’s always a disassociation between the actual power generated and what’s being transmitted and distributed to end users,” New explains, adding that his new master plan includes retrofitting current energy estates, spanning almost 150kha, in Southeast Asia with feedback sensors, gateways and wireless communications to collect real-time data via an IoT platform. This way, information on the inequalities and inefficiencies that emerge as power is deployed to the communities can be collected.With the data, New says that he and his team will then develop more affordable solutions for consumers, and conceptualise new ideas to prevent energy wastage.The project is spearheaded by Best Power Ventures—a blockchain tech firm owned by New that focuses on providing smart solutions to the energy market—and will commence in the last quarter of this year. It is estimated to benefit nearly 40 million consumers in Indonesia, and a total of 100 million people across Southeast Asia.Entrepreneur Christien New takes a forward-thinking approach with his energy business, investing in technological innovations such as blockchain and cryptocurrency in a bid to build a more sustainable energy economy.https://www.thailandtatler.com/society/pt-bintan-power-plant-christien-new
