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2025 Vol.57, Issue 3 Preview Page

Original Paper

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Global Warming Impact of Biomass Sawdust from Gamal (Gliricidia sepium) Production in Indonesia
Citasari Hendrasetiafitri12†
,
Bramasto Nugroho3
,
Dede Hermawan4
,
Tatang Tiryana5
1Performance and Cost Control Division, Perum Perhutani, Republic of Indonesia, Head of Department
2Department of Forest Management, IPB University, Republic of Indonesia, Doctoral Student
3Department of Forest Management, IPB University, Republic of Indonesia, Professor
4Department of Forest Product, IPB University, Republic of Indonesia, Professor
5Department of Forest Management, IPB University, Republic of Indonesia, Associate Professor
†Corresponding Author: E-mail: citasari@perhutani.co.id (Address: Performance and Cost Control Division, Perum Perhutani, Jakarta, 12540, Republic of Indonesia)
30 June 2025. pp. 22-39
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Abstract

Biomass is one of the most promising alternative energy sources. Renewable energy from biomass is generated through cultivation and processing. Conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) is essential to quantify the overall emissions associated with biomass energy. In Indonesia, biomass cofiring technology represents a viable option for achieving renewable energy mix targets due to its rapid implementation and low cost. The country aims to utilize 10 million tonnes of biomass annually for cofiring. This study estimates emissions from biomass used as a cofiring feedstock, derived from an integrated Gamal energy plantation forest (HTE). LCA calculations performed using SimaPro software indicate that CO2 emissions from biomass sawdust with a particle size of 2.5–3 mm amount to 222 g CO2 eq/kWh and 298 g CO2 eq/kg. In comparison, emissions from coal-based energy are three to four times higher. To accelerate a just energy transition, the Indonesian government has introduced a carbon tax of 30,000 IDR per tonne of CO2 eq in the power generation sector. However, this rate is insufficient to effectively incentivize power plants to transition from coal to biomass cofiring. A sensitivity analysis suggests that a more effective carbon tax would be at least 6.5 USD per tonne of CO2 eq.

Keywords
HTE
cofiring
biomass
LCA
global warming
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Information
  • Publisher :Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국펄프종이공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korea TAPPI
  • Journal Title(Ko) :펄프종이기술
  • Volume : 57
  • No :3
  • Pages :22-39
  • Received Date : 2025-03-05
  • Revised Date : 2025-04-19
  • Accepted Date : 2025-04-21
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7584/JKTAPPI.2025.6.57.3.22
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