Innovation from IBP University Expert: Nyamplung and Biogas as Fuel for Agricultural Machinery

(IBP University) IPB University Agricultural Machinery Engineering Expert Prof Desrial has developed a renewable energy innovation based on local resources by utilising nyamplung oil and biogas as fuel for agricultural machinery. This innovation is considered to have great potential to support energy independence in the national agricultural sector.

“Nyamplung oil can be used directly as fuel for agricultural diesel engines,” he said in his Scientific Oration on Saturday (1/24). “This is part of the development of renewable energy technology in the agricultural sector.”

Prof Desrial mentioned that the potential of nyamplung oil in Indonesia reaches around 4,8 million tonnes per year, making it highly potential to be developed as a renewable energy source. Performance testing of diesel engines using pure nyamplung oil has been carried out and shows promising results.

“The test results show that diesel engines fuelled by nyamplung oil have a similar performance pattern to diesel fuel,” he said.

This research is part of the development of biofuel-powered diesel engines, specifically those fuelled by coconut oil and nyamplung oil. Through a fuel heating system that utilises exhaust heat, conventional diesel engines can be adapted to use pure vegetable oil without undergoing a complicated chemical conversion process.

Based on laboratory and field test results, diesel engines are still able to operate stably with an acceptable reduction in power. This technology has the potential to be widely applied to agricultural tools and machinery, generators, and fishing boat engines, especially in rural and remote areas. For this innovation, Prof Desrial’s research was included in the list of 104 most promising innovations in Indonesia.

In addition to vegetable oil, Prof Desrial has also developed biogas converter technology as a renewable energy solution for rural communities. This converter is designed to be simple, easy to manufacture, and can be directly installed on petrol engines to replace the carburettor.

“The potential for biogas in livestock farming areas is enormous. In Indonesia, the potential reaches around 28 million cubic metres per year. This can be utilised for petrol engines,” he explained.

The biogas converter has been tested directly on cattle farms using biogas from digesters. The results show that water pumps using biogas fuel can operate well and stably, making them suitable for use by farmers and ranchers.

Prof Desrial also touched on national energy policy, whereby Indonesia has currently implemented the B40 programme and is preparing to move towards B50. This programme is in line with the efforts of the government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the Ministry of Agriculture, to strengthen the use of biofuels, particularly those based on palm oil.

“This innovation confirms that the development of the national agricultural machinery industry must be based on three main pillars, namely the suitability of technology to the tropical agroecosystem, the use of renewable energy based on local resources, and the readiness of technology to be adopted by users,” he said. (dh) (IAAS/LAN) READ MORE