Supply Chain Model to Support the Sustainability of Biomass based Power Plants: Indonesia case

Abstract

New and renewable energy in Indonesia's energy mix in 2025 is 23 percent, including biomass. West Java Province is the largest producer of agricultural rice products in Indonesia, the problem is that the source of the supply of agricultural biomass is spread in various areas. This study aimed to optimize the supply chain model of agricultural biomass for a steam power plant in West Java Province. The variables considered are distance, cost, type of biomass, volume, and seasonal constraints. Energy demand analysis is based on low calorific value data for each biomass by considering supply fluctuations, while supply chain optimization uses a combination of transportation and cost models. The most significant supply of biomass comes from rice husks, followed by palm shells, wood waste, and corn cobs. Sources of supply come from 11 regencies/cities with a radius of 200 km. The boiler capacity for power generation is planned at 25 tons, it requires heat of 456.05 Gcal/day from a minimum of 264.9 tons/day of biomass. There are five intermediary suppliers with supply capabilities between 20 tons - 330 tons, supply chain optimization from intermediate suppliers to the power plant locus results in a mixed biomass unit price of IDR 2088/kg or IDR 775.76 per calorie. To support the sustainable supply of biomass raw materials, in November, December, and January the main sources of supply of biomass are wood waste and palm shells because rice production decreased to only 30%.