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ESTD Year: 2017 | Impact Factor (2026): 8.7
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
ESTD Year: 2017 | Impact Factor (2026): 8.7
DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET
Vol 10 No 6 (2026): Volume 10, Issue 6, June 2026 | Pages: 318-322
International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology
OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 30-06-2026
Global energy transition and Indonesia's biodiesel mandate require comprehensive technical and economic analysis of B40 biodiesel implementation in large-scale power generation. This study analyzes the thermal efficiency, technical implications, and economic feasibility of B40 biodiesel use in a 140 MW Dual-Fuel Engine at a Gas Engine Power Plant (PLTMG). Field testing was conducted on 14 generator units under load variations of 7 MW, 8 MW, and 9 MW, comparing B40 performance against B0 and B35 baselines. Results show that B40 improves thermal efficiency at low-to-medium loads (+0.87 pp at 7 MW, +0.28 pp at 8 MW) due to the internal oxidizer mechanism of intrinsic FAME oxygen (~11% wt), with peak efficiency of 42.71% at 8 MW (the "sweet spot"). A trade-off occurs at 9 MW peak load where efficiency decreases (-0.57 pp) due to heat transfer loss dominance. Emission testing at 9 MW confirmed B40 reduces PM by 11.9% and CO by 4.0% compared to B35, while NOx increases moderately (+2.5%) but remains 25.3% below Permen LHK P.15/2019 limits (compliance probability: 98.7%). All fuel system materials proven compatible without major modification. Economic analysis shows B40 LCOE at $0.0857/kWh, only 1.78% higher than B0, with efficiency benefits and carbon credits ($151,200/year) offsetting 70% of the price premium. The break-even point is reached at a 1.2% premium. B40 is feasible for sustainable implementation at 60–66% load range with condition-based maintenance strategy.
B40 biodiesel; dual-fuel engine; thermal efficiency; LCOE; exhaust gas emissions; normalized SFC.
Galvani Repi, Widayat, & Sri Widodo Agung Suedy. (2026). Thermal Efficiency Analysis and Economic Feasibility of Using B40 Biodiesel in a 140 MW Dual-Fuel Engine at a Gas-Powered Power Plant (PLTMG). International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, 10(6), 318-322. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2026.106038
This work is licensed under Creative common Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 Internation Licence
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