Prof Edy Hartulistiyoso: Industrial Waste Heat Can Be Converted into Electricity and Biochar
Amid increasing energy demand and pressure to reduce emissions, waste heat from industrial processes is often wasted. In fact, this heat can be reused as a source of energy and value added products.
Professor of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at IPB University, Prof Edy Hartulistiyoso, introduced the concept of combined heat, power and product (CHPP) as a solution for industrial energy efficiency. This concept enables heat to be utilized to generate electricity while also producing value added products such as biochar and bio-oil.
“Heat that has long been wasted can actually still be reused to generate electricity and other value-added products,” he stated during the Scientific Oration for Professors at IPB University on Saturday (5/23) at the Dramaga Campus.
According to Prof Edy, thermal energy demand in Indonesia is currently still dominated by coal and natural gas, despite the country’s enormous renewable energy potential. He emphasized that discussions about energy are not limited to electricity, but also include thermal systems used in various agricultural and fisheries processing activities, such as heating, drying, and cooling.
Under the national energy policy, the energy sector is directed toward achieving 51 percent renewable energy utilization and 37 percent energy efficiency. However, the use of solar energy in Indonesia is still considered minimal, even though its potential is abundant.
In addition to CHPP, Prof Edy also explained the use of organic rankine cycle (ORC) technology to process low-temperature heat sources so they can be reused as energy. On the other hand, Indonesia has enormous potential from agromaritime resources such as biomass, solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, and ocean energy, all of which can be developed into sustainable energy sources.
Biomass, for example, can be processed through direct combustion, biogas, bioethanol, and pyrolysis, which produces value added biochar and bio-oil.
He explained that IPB University itself has developed various thermal energy innovations, one of which is the greenhouse effect solar dryer (ERK) technology developed since the 1980s to support the drying of agricultural products without relying on fossil fuels.
In addition, solar energy is also utilized for cooling systems for fishery products through photovoltaic (PV) based electricity that powers vapor compression cooling systems, helping fishermen preserve the quality of their catch for a longer period of time.
Energy issues and climate change have become global concerns, as the burning of fossil fuels remains the main source of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions that trigger the greenhouse effect and rising global temperatures.
Through the development of technologies such as CHPP, Prof Edy encourages more efficient energy utilization, not only to reduce emissions but also to create new economic value from energy that has long been wasted. (Ez) (IAAS/AS)
