Material flow analysis for energy potential in coffee production

Abstract

Abstract Agricultural waste has the potential of biomass as a raw material for producing renewable energy. The primary processing of coffee produces waste from pulping and hulling activities. Waste can be processed further through composting, anaerobic water waste treatment and burning to be converted into electrical energy. Therefore, the calculation is needed that estimates the amount of potential biomass that is converted. Then, the purpose of the paper is to analyze each stage in the life cycle of Gayo Arabica coffee and calculate the potential amount of electrical energy produced. The life cycle assessment method uses material and energy analysis intending to explain the flow of inputs and outputs within the system boundary and analyze the movement and transformation of materials, energy, waste, and emissions. In the context of the paper, the study uses material flow analysis to estimate the biomass potential from solid and water waste treatment. The study uses interviews, observations and a cooperative report located in Central Aceh district as an Arabica coffee producer area in Indonesia. Production of Arabica coffee is managed by cooperatives involving small farmers and collectors from cultivation, primary processing, packaging, and delivery. Cultivation uses the agroforestry system with a shade tree of the type of lamtoro (Leucaena leucocephala). Packing with a pack of burlap is done by the cooperative. Activities undertaken cooperatives include the acceptance of coffee beans from the collector. Since 2016 cooperatives implemented a policy of processing coffee beans at the collector level. The estimation of the study shows that waste treatment through anaerobic water waste treatment, composting and combustion from 1 ton of cherry coffee (primary processing) has an energy potential of 34 kwh.