Rice husk as renewable energy: Potential in pabelan and bringin district, semarang regency

Abstract Energy consumption in Indonesia has increased by 7-8% per year in line with population and economic growth in last 10 years. Based on Indonesian Government Ordinance no. 79/2014 regarding the National Energy Policy, by 2025 it’s required to use renewable energy at least 23% and 31% from total energy mixture by 2050. Besides its’ limited availability, fossil fuel consumption leads to greenhouse gas release which contributing to global warming. Indonesia has abundant renewable energy sources such as biomass. Based on data from Central Statistics Agency of Semarang Regency, in 2023 Semarang Regency has 40.428,3 ha of rice field area that produces 246.942,2 tons of rice. Pabelan District has agricultural land of 4.950,1 ha with 29.451,5 tons of rice production. While Bringin District has 3.986,9 ha of agricultural land with 23.554 tons of rice production. Rice husk as one of rice agricultural byproduct that have not been optimally utilized. The current underutilization of this resource, with only around 20% being used for practical purposes, presents a significant opportunity for tapping into its potential as a renewable energy source. This paper will elaborate rice husk potential for biogas production in Pabelan and Bringin District, Semarang Regency and it’s benefits from environmental perspectives.