Wood briquettes as a renewable energy resource: A mini-review

• Main Authors: Tambunan, Hardiansyah, Sutiawan, Jajang, Nuryawan, Arif
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Biomass energy production; Briquets; Calorific value; Energy sources; Eucalyptus; Fossil fuels; Physical properties; Plywood; Raw materials; Renewable energy; Renewable resources
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0129161

The utilization of renewable energy derived from biomass is one of the initiatives in producing alternative energy to lessen reliance on fossil fuels. Wood briquettes are one of the sustainable fuels made from wood. Wood briquettes have the benefit over fossil fuels in that the raw ingredients are always available in nature, cheaper, lighter, easier to obtain, and have economic worth. In Indonesia, wood briquette research is still in its infancy. Even though potential sources of high heat value wood are abundantly available in Indonesia, based on our best knowledge, only two species of wood have been employed to produce wood briquettes, namely teak (Tectona grandis) and sengon (Paraserianthes falcataria). According to the findings of this mini-review, indeed Indonesia has at least eight different species of wood that might be potentially used as briquette raw materials, including primary (Acacia auriculiformis), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus pellita), Gamal (Gliricidae immaculate), lamtoro (Leucaena leucochephala), weru (Albizia procera), laban (Vitex pubescens), kaliandra (Calliandra calothyrsus), and galam (Melaleuca leucadendron). In addition, by-product Indonesia plywood and sawn timber fabricated can be used as raw materials in briquettes. The most important feature of wood briquettes is their heating or calorific value. The heat value of wood for wood briquettes is determined by chemical components, wood’s anatomy properties, and wood’s physical characteristics. The heat value of wood is influenced more by the chemical components of the wood.