Bioethanol prospect from agricultural crops and its biomass in Indonesia

Abstract

Contradiction between the surplus domestic bioethanol supply and the failure to fulfill the bioethanol E2 biofuel program in 2020 is because the fuel grade ethanol price is still more expensive than gasoline. Indonesia’s fuel consumption needs, especially gasoline is increased from 37.49 million kL in 2020 to 43.59 million kL in 2025, with a deficit that is met with gasoline imports. Bioethanol production is still in surplus, the remainder is exported, still unable to supply the E2 bioethanol program and the import of non-fuel-grade ethanol is carried out. The abundance of mollase is not only the main raw material for bioethanol, but it is in competition with other industries such as MSG, and the decline in sugar cane land will reduce the availability of mollase in the future. In 2015, world bioethanol produces 1,390 million liter from 2G bioethanol, still in TRL4~TRL8 status, yet to commercial. To maintain ethanol supply security, potential biomass and waste-crops, and a lot of available sources that are not in competition with food needs, technological aspects, productivity, availability, and other aspects, biomass commodities need to continue to be developed with more intensive collaboration between institutions (academic, government, private). This study assesses the greatest potential of non-food biomass in Indonesia, including the 2nd generation bioethanol, 3rd generation, and the current biggest challenge in the readiness and maturity of the technology and its economic feasibility.