Analisis Potensi Energi Biodiesel dan Biomassa dari Empat Varietas Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) sebagai Sumber Energi Terbarukan

Abstract

Meningkatnya kebutuhan energi mendorong pengembangan sumber energi terbarukan berbasis potensi lokal, khususnya di wilayah penyangga Ibu Kota Nusantara (IKN). Kelapa sawit memiliki potensi besar sebagai sumber energi melalui pemanfaatan Crude Palm Oil (CPO) dan limbah tandan kosong kelapa sawit (TKKS), namun pemanfaatannya belum optimal dan belum mempertimbangkan perbedaan karakteristik antar varietas serta keseimbangan antara kebutuhan energi dan pangan. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis karakteristik kimia mesokarp dan TKKS dari empat varietas kelapa sawit (Sain, Lonsum, Marihat, dan Dampi), mengidentifikasi potensi energi masing-masing varietas, serta mengkaji integrasi energi biodiesel dan biomassa disertai analisis trade-off energi dan pangan. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) satu faktor dengan empat taraf varietas dan tiga ulangan, sehingga diperoleh 24 sampel (12 mesokarp dan 12 TKKS). Analisis dilakukan secara kuantitatif melalui ANOVA, korelasi, analisis multivariat, serta pendekatan skenario dengan indikator Food Energy Index (FEI), Food Security Ratio (FSR), dan optimasi menggunakan metode TOPSIS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa varietas Lonsum dan Sain memiliki kadar minyak tertinggi sehingga lebih potensial sebagai bahan baku biodiesel, sedangkan varietas Dampi dan Marihat memiliki potensi biomassa yang lebih baik berdasarkan kandungan lignoselulosa. Kandungan lignin yang tinggi pada TKKS menunjukkan bahwa biomassa lebih sesuai dimanfaatkan melalui jalur termokimia dibandingkan biokimia. Integrasi energi biodiesel dan biomassa menghasilkan total energi sistem sebesar ±12,69 juta GJ per tahun, yang jauh melebihi kebutuhan energi wilayah Kabupaten Penajam Paser Utara (±450 ribu GJ/tahun), sehingga secara teoritis mampu memenuhi lebih dari 28 kali kebutuhan energi wilayah. Analisis trade-off menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan alokasi CPO untuk energi akan meningkatkan potensi energi, namun menurunkan ketersediaan untuk pangan. Hasil optimasi menunjukkan bahwa alokasi CPO pada kisaran 20–25% merupakan kondisi yang relatif optimal dalam menjaga keseimbangan antara energi dan pangan. Secara keseluruhan, penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan kelapa sawit secara terintegrasi, berbasis karakteristik varietas, dan didukung analisis kuantitatif trade-off dapat menjadi dasar dalam pengambilan keputusan pengembangan energi terbarukan yang berkelanjutan di wilayah penyangga IKN.

The increasing demand for energy has encouraged the development of renewable energy based on local resources, particularly in the buffer area of Indonesia’s new capital (IKN). Oil palm has significant potential as an energy source through the utilization of Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass. However, its utilization remains suboptimal and has not fully considered varietal characteristics and the balance between energy and food demands. This study aims to analyze the chemical characteristics of mesocarp and EFB from four oil palm varieties (Sain, Lonsum, Marihat, and Dampi), identify their respective energy potentials, and evaluate the integration of biodiesel and biomass energy, including the trade-off between energy and food. The research employed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor (variety) and three replications, resulting in 24 samples (12 mesocarp and 12 EFB). Data were analyzed using quantitative and statistical approaches, including ANOVA, correlation analysis, multivariate analysis, and scenario-based analysis using the Food Energy Index (FEI), Food Security Ratio (FSR), and TOPSIS method for optimization. The results show that Lonsum and Sain varieties have the highest Oil Content, making them more suitable as biodiesel feedstock, while Dampi and Marihat demonstrate better biomass potential based on their lignocellulosic composition. The high lignin content in EFB indicates that it is more suitable for thermochemical conversion processes rather than biochemical pathways. The integration of biodiesel and biomass energy results in a total system energy potential of approximately ±12.69 million GJ per year, which significantly exceeds the regional energy demand of Penajam Paser Utara (±450 thousand GJ/year), indicating its strong potential to support regional energy security. The trade-off analysis reveals that increasing the allocation of CPO for energy enhances energy potential but reduces food availability. The optimization results suggest that an allocation of 20–25% of CPO for energy represents a relatively optimal balance between energy and food needs. Overall, this study demonstrates that integrated oil palm-based energy utilization, supported by varietal characteristics and quantitative trade-off analysis, can serve as a strategic foundation for sustainable renewable energy development in the IKN buffer region.