Do You Know About Advanced Biofuels and Its Implementation in Indonesia?

Biofuel tank illustration, source: Unsplash.com
  • Advanced biofuels refers to a subset of biofuels that can be produced from non-food feedstocks or waste materials.
  • These biofuels are regarded as having lower emissions of greenhouse gases compared to traditional biofuels.
  • Using advanced biofuels is a risk-free, tried-and-true, and scalable solution to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation industry, particularly in long-distance trucks and aviation.

What are advanced biofuels?

Advanced biofuels refers to a subset of biofuels that can be produced from non-food feedstocks or waste materials. These biofuels are regarded as having lower emissions of greenhouse gases compared to traditional biofuels. In contrast to traditional biofuels, also known as first-generation biofuels, which are primarily derived from food crops like corn, soybeans, or sugarcane, advanced biofuels can be derived from a wide variety of non-food sources like agricultural wastes, algae, municipal solid waste, or wood chips.

Using advanced biofuels is a risk-free, tried-and-true, and scalable solution to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation industry, particularly in long-distance trucks and aviation. When compared to fossil fuels, the emissions that can be cut by using advanced biofuels range from 70% to 80%. It is generally agreed that advanced biofuels, as opposed to standard, first-generation biofuels, are more environmentally friendly.


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Traditional biofuels often make use of “food-based” feedstocks, and these biofuels have garnered a lot of criticism for the fact that they redirect edible crops toward fuel production rather for food providing. Innovative biofuels make a contribution to the concept of a circular economy by making use of waste bio-feedstocks that would otherwise be thrown away in landfills and serve no other function. In addition, the utilization of refineries that are already in operation in order to manufacture renewable hydrocarbon fuels from the aforementioned bio-feedstocks is a method for lowering carbon emissions that does not require an excessive amount of investment in refinery infrastructure.

What are the types of advanced biofuels?

Algae illustration, source: Unsplash.com

There are several types of biofuels, made from different feedstock and using different production methods, namely;

  • Cellulosic biofuels

These biofuels are created from the cellulose and hemicellulose found in non-food crops and agricultural waste, such as maize stover, switchgrass, or wood chips. Cellulose is broken down into sugars, which are then fermented into ethanol or other fuels. This type of biofuel has the potential to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and can be created from waste sources.

  • Algae-based biofuels

In ponds or tanks, algae can be grown and turned into biofuels such as biodiesel or ethanol. Because they do not require arable land, fresh water, or fertilizers to generate, algae-based biofuels have the potential to be more sustainable than traditional biofuels. The technology, however, is still in its early phases of development.

  • Bio-based hydrocarbon

These are fuels that have similar qualities to petroleum-based fuels but are manufactured from renewable feedstocks. They can be made in a variety of ways, including catalytic conversion of biomass or sugar fermentation into hydrocarbons. Bio-based hydrocarbons have the ability to be utilised in current engines and infrastructure, making them an appealing alternative to petroleum-based fuels.

  • Waste to energy biofuels

These biofuels are created from waste products such as food waste, agricultural waste, and municipal solid waste. They can be turned into fuels by a variety of processes, including gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion. Waste-to-energy biofuels have the potential to lower greenhouse gas emissions while diverting waste away from landfills.


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Advanced biofuels in Indonesia

Palm oil waste, source: Unsplash.com

In 2006, the state-owned firm PT Pertamina introduced a biofuel having a 2.5% fatty acid methyl biocontent. (FAME). Over time, PT Pertamina worked to raise the proportion of FAME in its biofuel, which is currently known as the B20 biodiesel, with a composition of 20% FAME and 90% diesel, and was used to meet the Public Service Obligation (PSO) of 9.24 million Kl each year. Since late 2018, all bodiesel sold in Indonesia has included a mandated 20% bio mix of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) derived from palm oil. The government has set aside 9.59 million kilolitres (KL) of FAME for the B30 mandate in 2020, an increase from 6.63 million KL this year.

Other biofuels options, such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) biodiesel generated from palm fatty acid distillate (PFAD), are also being studied as potential replacements. This includes the utilization of palm and waste oils as feedstock. HVO, in particular, is seen as a potential area of research because it can be employed not just in biodiesel but also in the aviation and maritime sectors. PT Pertamina has already started exporting HVOs. However, the absence of mandated International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) remains a significant barrier that it must overcome in order to get access to potential buyers.

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