A Fuel Testing Analysis of B20 Biodiesel for Gas Turbines in Indonesia

Abstract

Biodiesel fuel has been applied to diesel cars for more than ten years and used on power application (turbines, boilers, etc.) recently in whole or blended with fossil fuels. The advantage of using biofuels as a renewable source is the significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the possibility of using biodiesel for gas turbine power plant in Indonesia through fuel testing analysis. Some biodiesel produced from four separated factories has been selected as samples for analyzing and then comparing to the fuel specification of three different gas turbine technologies located in Tello, Belawan and Gresik. It is found that no B20 biodiesel meet the requirements of fuel specification from all gas turbine technologies. This study recommends standardizing B20 biodiesel in Indonesia in order to be suitable with the fuel specification of gas turbines. In addition, some technical issues has been proposed to be further research. It is also recommended to do a pilot project using appropriate biodiesel at some gas turbines technologies on operation mode within life cycle cost analysis.