Energy Balance Calculation with Life Cycle Assessment for Production of Palm Biodiesel in Indonesia

Abstract

Energy balance analysis study for the production process of biodiesel needs to be done to find out whether a production process of biodiesel activity has a surplus energy or minus energy. This study aims to analyse the balance of energy of the plantation of palm, production of palm oil, and production process units of biodiesel with the life cycle assessment in Banyuasin-Indonesia. The results of this study indicate that the largest energy input in the plantation of palm, production of palm oil, and production process units of biodiesel sequentially is the use of urea as N-fertilizer, electricity, and methanol. The value of NEB and NER in the production process of palm biodiesel sequentially is 5871 MJ and 1.17. Finally, the production process of palm biodiesel in Banyuasin area has a positive energy balance. The activity of production of palm biodiesel is proper to operate because it produces an energy surplus.