The Potential of Nipah (Nypa Fruticans Wurmb) as Bioenergy Resources

Renewable energy opens up prospects for answer the problem and an eco-friendly solution directed to energy security. Indonesia as a rich country of biodiversity resources, has a high potential for developing new and renewable energy derivates from plants. One of those biodiversity resources that had been investigated is nipah (Nypa fruticans Wurmb). Nipah belongs to family Palmae or Arecaceae. Commonly known as the nipa palm, is a species of palm considered adapted to the mangrove ecosystem. Nipah naturally distributes in Sumatera, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. Nipah produces high amount of sap that can be converted into bioethanol. Nipah sap was produced by fruit stalks that can be harvested twice a day. One stalk can produce about 0.5 to 2 l sap per day. This nipah sap generates 8.98-14% of ethanol that resulting varied amount of bioethanol from 3,587.92-22,374.54 l per ha per year. Nipah also contains high amount of lignocellulose that can be converted into bioethanol. Nipah has cellulose and hemicellulose content that ranges from 28.9-45.6 wt% and 21.8-26.4 wt%, respectively. This lignocellulose component can be converted into bioethanol and yielded around 1,169.22 kg per ha. Charcoal production is also potentially made from some parts of nipah tree, such as fruit bunch, fruit shell, leaf midrib, and leaves. Nipah has productivity around 2,858.89 kg per ha to produce charcoal. The nipah charcoal has characteristics close to charcoal characteristics produced from other palm trees.