Analysis of Energy-Water Nexus Palm Oil Biodiesel Production in Riau Using Life Cycle Assessment and Water Footprint Methods

By Arnan Kuncoro, Wahyu Purwanto | Publication, Scientific Paper

The purpose of this study is to conduct an analysis of the relationship between water and energy consumption in biodiesel production in Riau Province. The process simulation of biodiesel production at the refinery was done with Unisim Design R390. 1 as part of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the energy consumption and CO2 emission. Water consumption in biodiesel production was calculated using water footprint method. The result showed that water footprints for Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB), Crude Palm Oil (CPO), and biodiesel were 671 m3/t FFB, 3,292 m3/t CPO, and 3,432 m3/t biodiesel, respectively. The total energy consumption and CO2 emission in biodiesel production was 14,252 MJ/t biodiesel and 608.6 kg CO2-eq/t biodiesel. Compared to other energy production, biodiesel production in Riau in 2017 is the largest water consumer, around 99.3% of total water abstraction, and the second largest energy consumer, about 31.7% of total electricity to water supply for CPO and biodiesel productions.