Electricity generation using biogas from food waste in Jakarta, Indonesia: Techno-economic and environmental impact analysis

Food waste (FW) has a substantial environmental impact, contributing to 4.4 GtCO₂ eq annually, equivalent to approximately 8% of total anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions based on carbon footprints. Indonesia ranks as the world's second-largest food waste producer, estimated to generate 300 kg of food waste per capita per year. However, there is a scarcity of studies assessing the electricity generation potential and economic feasibility of biogas-to-electricity projects in Indonesia. This paper presents the recovery of biogas from food waste for electricity generation, aiming to determine its economic and environmental benefits for Jakarta, Indonesia. The food waste generation potential in Jakarta was estimated from 2024 to 2043, and the theoretical methane yield was calculated using Buswell's equation. The economic feasibility of anaerobic digestion projects was analyzed using various methods, including total life cycle cost, net present value, investment payback period, levelized cost of energy, and internal rate of return. Environmental impact assessment included air pollution (SO₂, NOx, and PM₁₀) and greenhouse gas (CO₂ and CH₄) emissions reduction. Methane yield from anaerobic digestion was determined to range from 315.9 to 616.5 × 10⁶ m³/yr, with electricity generation potential between 721.5 and 1,407.9 Gigawatt-hours. Economic indicators demonstrated the viability of anaerobic digestion, with positive net present values. The net present value and levelized cost of energy for anaerobic digestion were $162.8 million and $0.095 per kilowatt-hour, respectively. Utilizing biogas from anaerobic digestion for electricity generation could displace 8.2 million tons of coal over the system's lifespan. This displacement would lead to reductions of 17.8 million tons of SO₂, 13.9 million tons of NOx, 1.7 million tons of PM₁₀, and 20.1 million tons of CO₂ compared to coal combustion.

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Particulate Matter Management Specialized Graduate Program through the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE).