Techno-economic analysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) in second generation bioethanol production
Yheni Mulyaningsih (a), HC Theofany (a), Yhana Mulyaningsih (a), Aulia Djati Pramiesta (a), HB Aditiya (a)*

a) Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sampoerna University, Jakarta

*aditiya.harjon[at]my.sampoernauniversity.ac.id

Abstract

Bioethanol which is the form of renewable energy is now becoming one of the prominent preferences to substitute the overuse of fossil fuel. In the second generation of bioethanol production, the high-grade sugar conversion from non-edible, starchy and lignocellulosic waste materials lead to the confidence of the utilization of oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) as the promising feedstock. However, due to the technical study limitation, the implementation of second-generation bioethanol production is still challenged for its economic feasibility. Hence, this current study will focus on the process involved in its significance and consequence of the production process toward the cost analysis on the production. The energy input and cost of three main components in bioethanol production which include the feedstock collection, logistic, and the feedstock treatment method are extensively studied. From the analysis, it is highlighted that the current phase for second-generation bioethanol production is still challenging to make it economically viable in Indonesia’s energy market. This research is proposed as a preliminary study and as a reference for further studies of second-generation bioethanol commercialization in Indonesia.

Keywords: bioethanol; biofuel; palm oil EFB; techno-economic;

Topic: Mechanical Engineering