Life cycle assessment for evaluating the energy balance of the multi-feedstock biodiesel production process in Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to compare the energy balance of the production of biodiesel from multiple feedstocks to the production of biodiesel from palm oil in Indonesia. The energy balance study indicates that the biodiesel multi-feedstock plant is feasible to operate. The renewability of biodiesel from multiple feedstocks is 3.31 and that of palm oil biodiesel is 6.23. It is due to the fact that the energy content and demand of multi-feedstock biodiesel are much lower than palm oil biodiesel. The energy content of biodiesel from multiple feedstocks (and its co-products) is less than that of biodiesel from palm oil (and its co-products), 109,041 MJ vs 130,370 MJ, respectively. The energy demands for the production of biodiesel from multiple feedstocks and biodiesel from palm oil are 35 × 10³ MJ and 23 × 10³ MJ, respectively. Energy demands, including fossil and biomass, are attributable to plantation operations, including the usage of fertilisers. Plantations of multiple crops use more energy than plantations of oil palm alone because they require more fertilisers. It is not suggested to produce multi-feedstock biodiesel from sunflower, canola, and soybean since its energy balance is not better than biodiesel from palm oil.

KEYWORDS:

• Biodiesel
• multi-feedstock
• life cycle assessment
• energy balance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial assistance granted by the programme of the Master's Education toward Doctorate for Excellent Bachelor's Degree (PMDSU) in 2021, Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (KEMDIKBUDRISTEK) [grant number 647-01/UN7.6.1/PP/2021].