Opportunity for Masters Thesis

Topic:
Assessment of fruit waste based biogas generation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Category

Masters Thesis Project, 30 hp

Supervisor/Contact Person

Dr. Dilip Khatiwada

Supervisor/Examiner

Prof. Semida Silveira

Division

Energy and Climate Studies (ECS)

Collaboration

Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta

Project duration

1 January to 30th May 2015

Funding

INSISTs bioenergy project and MFS for field visit

Background:
The division of energy and climate studies (ECS) participates in the Indonesian-Swedish Initiative for
Sustainable Energy Solutions (INSISTs) with a project to devise bioenergy strategies for Indonesia. ECS
collaborates with Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in this
project. We are looking for one student to work on the topic Assessment of fruit waste based biogas
generation in Yogyakarta, Indonesia opportunities for small scale biogas plants for production of biogas in
the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

As part of on-going INSISTs bioenergy project, this Masters Thesis is announced in order to
complement this task. Realizing the fact that waste-to-biogas is one of the sustainable options for
bioenergy development in municipalities, we intend to develop a study on the assessment of fruit
waste based biogas generation in Yogyakarta. The fruit waste based biogas plant in Gamping was
installed (with the processing capacity of 4 tonne/day) in collaboration established between UGM and
Boras University in 2011. The master thesis shall focus specifically in identifying the technoeconomic and environmental performances of the small scale waste-to-biogas generation in
Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The small-scale biogas production could provide multiple benefits to the
municipality of the city of Yogyakarta by providing energy services (biogas/electricity), improving
local environment, and contributing to the mitigation of the climate change. Furthermore, social

benefits such as new job opportunities and a better living environment for the inhabitants of the city
could result from the successful implementation of the project.

Objectives:

To perform a background field study on the small-scale biogas generation and use in
Indonesia

To analyse the techno-economic feasibility of the fruit waste based biogas plant located in
Gamping/ Yogyakarta

To conduct energy and GHG balances in the entire production chain of biogas production
and use

Analyse the possible direct benefits that can be accrued from the small-scale biogas plant
in the surrounding locality of the market area

Qualifications:
The analysis to be undertaken is interdisciplinary in nature, and requires some knowledge of
bioenergy conversion technologies, energy planning/policy and economics. Students should have an
undergraduate degree in chemistry, biology, engineering, economics, or similar fields.

Study tasks and research methodology

The Student shall formulate the appropriate research questions to meet the given objective along with
an appropriate research methodology and work plan. The study will mainly focus on assessing the
techno-economic and environmental performances of biogas generation and use from fruit waste in
Gamping/ Yogyakarta. The student will begin with a literature review on previous research related to
the small scale biogas generation and its use for cooking purpose or electricity generation in
Indonesia, and elsewhere. A study field trip will be conducted to collect necessary data and identify
specific conditions for the performance of the small-scale biogas plant. With figures in hand, the
student shall investigate the performance of biogas production and use within the objectives of the
work. Energy and GHG balances can be estimated in a life cycle perspective. Such a system approach
is important to guarantee climate benefits and avoid leakages through efficient utilization of resources.
Finally, the student analyse the direct benefits such as provisions of clean energy for lighting and
cooking, employment generation. The references will be clearly specified along the report to facilitate
future reproducibility of the results. The students will receive the support of our local partners.

Further details on the studies to be done shall be defined in a workplan

Funding
The selected student(s) shall apply for MFS travel grant for the field trip to Indonesia. The next
deadline for applications is the 10th of Nov 2014. Read more at:
(https://www.kth.se/student/program/utlandsstudier/examensarbete/mfs/minor-field-studies1.2163).

Applications to this topic

Interested candidates shall contact dilip.khatiwada@energy.kth.se no later than 4th Nov 2014 and
prepare a brief draft with motivation for their interest and ideas about how they would like to
develop their project (s). A short CV and course plan from LADOK should be added. The
selected candidates will prepare a proposal to apply for a MFS grant under our guidance.
Knowledge of local language is an advantage for this study though not a strict requirement.
Suggested initial readings
Lantz et al., 2007. The prospects for an expansion of biogas systems in Sweden - Incentives,
barriers and potentials. Energy Policy 35, pp. 18301843
Gabriela, A., 2010. The Possibilities for Biogas in Bolivia: Symbioses between Generators of
Organic Residues, Biogas Producers and Biogas Users. Masters Thesis, Royal Institute of
Technology
Maghanaki et al., 2013. Potential of biogas production in Iran. Renewable and Sustainable
Energy Reviews 28, pp. 702714.
Mwirigi et al., 2014. Socio-economic hurdles to widespread adoption of small-scale biogas
digesters in Sub-Saharan Africa: A review Biomass and Bioenergy. DOI:
10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.02.018
Garcia, A.P., 2014. Techno-economic feasibility study of a small-scale biogas plant for treating
market waste in the city of El Alto, Masters Thesis, Royal Institute of Technology
Olsson, L., and Fallde, M., 2014. Waste potential: a socio-technical analysis of biogas
production and use in Sweden. Journal of Cleaner Production. DOI:
10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.02.015