Most of the current biofuels today come from crops such as oil palm, rapeseed and soy (biodiesel) and sugar cane, corn and wheat (ethanol ). There are also several “new” promising crops for biofuels of which little is kno wn about their technical and sustainability performance. One example is sugar palm; although little empirica l data from a small number of sources is yet available, it seems under the right conditions sugar palm can be very productive with high ethanol yields. Sugar palm gro ws in mixed stands (providing opportunities for additional sources of income for farmers), has certain environmental benefits and requires little maintenance. This study evaluates whether sugar palm is a suitab le crop for biofuels and how production of ethanol from sugar palm in a large-sc ale setting is sustainably and economically feasible. Field data was collected from two areas with existi ng sugar palm plantings in Indonesia; from eight villages in Batang Toru in No rth Sumatra and from six locations in Tomohon, North Sulawesi. The empirical data show ed large variations in yields per productive sugar palm and number of productive palm s per hectare. These variations are explained by heterogeneous smallholder manageme nt systems, tapping skills, local conditions and climate, and the lack of impro ved quality seeds / seedlings that have been selected for high and uniform juice produ ction.
Publication year
2011
Authors
van de Staaij J; van den Bos A; Hamelinck C; Martini, E.; Walden D; Roshetko, J.M.
Language
English
Keywords
economics, energy, ethanol, sugar palms, sustainability
Geographic
Indonesia
