BRIN Researcher: Sugar Palm Has Potential as National Bioethanol Source

A researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency’s (BRIN) Biomass and Bioproducts Research Centre, Saptadi Darmawan, has assessed that the sugar palm tree has the potential to become a national source of bioethanol because it is easy to process, has sustainable productivity, and can grow on marginal land. During a discussion with journalists at the Centre for Sustainable Forest Development in Bogor, West Java, on Friday, Saptadi said sugar palm sap is a relatively easy bioethanol raw material to process because it contains high levels of sucrose, glucose, and fructose. Unlike bioethanol made from starch or woody biomass, which requires more complex processing, bioethanol from sugar palm sap only needs to be produced through fermentation and distillation. Furthermore, he said, palm-based bioethanol has an octane rating of around 108, higher than high-octane petrol. A sugar palm tree can also produce sap for up to 20 years, making it a sustainable source of renewable energy raw material. ‘The economic value is quite good. It is also renewable,’ he said. Saptadi explained that sugar palm can be cultivated on marginal land or land that is less productive for agriculture, so it does not compete with food commodities. On the other hand, the plant also contributes to conservation because its root system helps retain soil and water, reduces erosion risk, and produces nectar as a food source for bees. Despite its great potential, the development of sugar palm bioethanol still faces several challenges. According to Saptadi, the quality of raw materials and the bioethanol production process still need further standardisation. Additionally, in several regions, sugar palm sap also competes with its use as a raw material for traditional alcoholic beverages, which have a higher economic value. He believes that the development of sugar palm for bioethanol needs to be distinguished from its use for food to avoid competition for raw materials. According to him, community-based management of sugar palm for food can continue, while bioethanol development requires cultivation areas on an economical scale to ensure a sustainable supply of sap. ‘For its development, we must create two clusters: sugar palm for food and sugar palm for energy. If they are not separated, its development will not run smoothly,’ he said. From an economic perspective, Saptadi assessed that a sugar palm bioethanol business is feasible to develop on a cooperative or small industry scale. Based on his team’s research, the cost of goods sold (COGS) for sugar palm bioethanol ranges from Rp8,500 to Rp10,000 per litre, while the selling price is estimated to reach Rp14,000 to Rp16,000 per litre, with an estimated gross margin of 35 to 45 percent. He added that the development of the bioethanol industry must be supported by the utilisation of all parts of the sugar palm tree to generate greater added value. Besides the sap as a raw material for bioethanol, the fruit can be processed into kolang-kaling (palm fruit), the fibre can be used for various industrial needs, and the waste can be processed into biopellets or palm biobriquettes. Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that sugar palm trees are spread across various regions of Indonesia. West Java is the province with the largest sugar palm area, followed by North Sumatra and South Sulawesi, which also have considerable development potential. Saptadi also highlighted the trend of shrinking sugar palm plantation areas in Indonesia. Based on BPS data, the area of sugar palm plantations shrank slightly from 64,544 hectares in 2019 to 60,557 hectares in 2023. Production also fell from a peak of 107,415 tonnes in 2021 to 100,273 tonnes in 2023, while productivity decreased from 2.8 tonnes per hectare to 2.7 tonnes per hectare over the same period. According to Saptadi, this condition needs attention if sugar palm is to be developed as a national bioethanol source. As part of the development of palm-based bioenergy, the Ministry of Forestry in December 2025 inaugurated a Sugar Palm Bioethanol Pilot at the Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Kamojang area in Garut, West Java. At the inauguration, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni said the project is an important milestone in accelerating the development of palm-based green bioenergy, in line with the government’s energy transition agenda. According to Raja Juli, sugar palm is one of the commodities with the potential to support national bioethanol needs because it can grow well in forest areas and on sloping land. The pilot project utilises sugar palm sap supplied by the Baru Bojong Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) in Bojong Village, Garut. The facility has a production capacity of approximately 300 litres of bioethanol per day, with a raw material requirement of 300 to 500 kilogrammes of sugar palm sap per day. The Ministry of Forestry estimates that one hectare of sugar palm trees can produce approximately 24,000 litres of bioethanol per year.