Sugar palm has potential as national bioethanol source: BRIN

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has identified sugar palm (aren) as a highly viable, sustainable alternative for national bioethanol production.

The crop offers simplified processing, a high octane rating, and the ability to thrive on marginal land without competing with food crops, according to a researcher at BRIN’s Biomass and Bioproducts Research Center, Saptadi Darmawan.

Speaking at the Center for Sustainable Forest Development in Bogor, Friday (June 26), Saptadi explained that sugar palm sap is a relatively easy raw material for bioethanol as it contains high levels of sucrose, glucose, and fructose.

Unlike bioethanol derived from starch or wood biomass, which requires complex processing, bioethanol from sugar palm sap can be produced simply through fermentation and distillation, he explained.

Furthermore, he noted that sugar palm-based bioethanol boasts an octane rating of around 108, which is higher than standard high-octane gasoline.

Sugar palms can also produce sap for up to 20 years, making them a highly sustainable source of renewable energy.

“Its economic value is quite good. It is also renewable,” Saptadi stated.

According to him, sugar palms can be grown on marginal or less productive agricultural land, ensuring that the energy crop does not compete directly with food commodities.

In terms of environmental benefits, the plant contributes to conservation efforts because its extensive root system helps maintain soil and water quality, reduces the risk of erosion, and produces nectar for bees.

However, Saptadi acknowledged that the development of sugar palm bioethanol still faces several challenges, including the need to further standardize the quality of raw materials and the production process.

Additionally, in some regions, sugar palm sap competes with its use as a raw material for traditional alcoholic beverages, which carry a higher economic value.

To mitigate this, Darmawan emphasized the need to differentiate the development of sugar palm for bioethanol from its use for food to avoid a conflict over raw materials.

"To develop it, we must create two clusters: sugar palm for food and sugar palm for energy. If we do not separate them, development will not run smoothly," he remarked.

From an economic perspective, he believes the sugar palm bioethanol business is feasible for cooperatives or small-scale industries. Based on his team's research, the cost of production (HPP) ranges from Rp8,500 to Rp10,000 (US$0.56) per liter, while the selling price is estimated at Rp14,000 to Rp16,000 (US$0.90) per liter, offering a gross margin of 35 to 45 percent.

Data from the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show that sugar palm plants are distributed throughout Indonesia, with West Java holding the largest area of plantations, followed by North Sumatra and South Sulawesi.

However, BPS data also revealed that Indonesia’s sugar palm plantations shrank slightly from 64,544 hectares in 2019 to 60,557 hectares in 2023, while production decreased from a peak of 107,415 tons in 2021 to 100,273 tons in 2023.

Saptadi stressed that this declining trend requires serious attention if the plant is to be developed as a national bioethanol source.

As a concrete step toward developing sugar palm-based bioenergy, the Forestry Ministry has inaugurated the Sugar Palm Bioethanol Pilot Plant at Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Kamojang, Garut, West Java, in December 2025.

The pilot project utilizes sugar palm sap supplied by the Baru Bojong Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS), operating with a production capacity of approximately 300 liters of bioethanol per day from 300 to 500 kilograms of sap.

The ministry estimates that one hectare of sugar palm plantations can produce around 24,000 liters of bioethanol per year to support national energy demands.

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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Yashinta Difa

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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