Category Learn

We often assume that waste marks the end of a cycle. In reality, there’s great potential for energy production if organic waste is processed properly.

Organic waste comes from various sources, ranging from household trash to agricultural residues. Since it decomposes easily, this type of waste can be turned into renewable energy sources such as biogas.

So, what kinds of organic waste can be transformed into energy? Let’s explore the answers in this article.

Why Can Organic Waste Be Used as an Energy Source?

Nearly all human activities generate organic waste. Without proper management, the accumulation of this waste can become a serious problem.

Yet behind what we consider mere trash lies the potential to become biogas, a clean, renewable energy source.

Both liquid and solid waste from households, farms, and industries can be converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion, a process that breaks down waste without oxygen.

On a larger scale, biogas can replace fossil fuels, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Read More: Why Biogas Can Save Energy: Here’s the Real Fact!

7 Types of Organic Waste That Can Be Used to Produce Energy

Curious about which types of organic waste can be turned into biogas? Here are some of the most commonly used ones:

1. Food Waste

Leftovers from the kitchen (rice, vegetables, fruit peels, even soft bones) fall under the category of organic waste due to their biodegradable nature.

They are rich in carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which microorganisms can easily ferment to produce biogas.

Read More: The Best Energy Alternative to Fossil Fuels: Is LNG the Answer?

2. Fruit and Vegetable Peels and Seeds

Think twice before tossing those peels and seeds! Kitchen scraps like banana peels, watermelon rinds, mango seeds, and potato skins are often overlooked, yet they break down easily and can produce methane gas during anaerobic fermentation.

3. Fish Bones

Commonly discarded by households and seafood restaurants, fish bones are a type of animal-based organic waste. Due to their high calcium and phosphorus content, they can also be converted into biogas.

Read More: The Crucial Role of Alternative Electricity Sources in Shaping Our Future

4. Wood Waste

Wood waste, including sawdust, wood chips, tree branches, and scrap timber, is often burned or thrown away.

However, wood contains cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, which can all be used as sources of bioenergy.

5. Animal and Human Waste

Though it might sound unpleasant, animal (cow, goat, chicken) and even human waste are rich in organic matter and highly suitable for renewable energy production.

Through anaerobic fermentation, these types of waste can be converted into methane-rich biogas as an alternative fuel.

Read More: Top Benefits of Natural Gas, More Than Just Low Emissions

6. Waste from the Leather Industry

Tanning processes and other leather industries generate large amounts of waste.

Solid waste like skin trimmings, meat scraps, and tissue residues is often discarded, even though they contain proteins and other organic materials that can be used to produce bioenergy or biogas.

7. Animal Carcasses

Whether from farms, slaughterhouses, or household waste, animal carcasses are typically seen as sources of foul odor and disease. But with the right technology, even carcasses can be converted into usable biogas.

Read More: Why Switching to Green Energy Matters and How It Impacts the Planet?

BioLNG: Clean Energy from Organic Waste

Waste such as livestock manure, food scraps, and agricultural residues can be processed anaerobically to produce biogas, primarily composed of methane and carbon dioxide.

BioLNG is created by purifying this biogas to separate the methane from other gases, resulting in high-purity biomethane. This biomethane is then liquefied by cooling it to extremely low temperatures, producing BioLNG.

Some of the key benefits of BioLNG include:

• Reduced carbon dioxide emissions
• Lower nitrogen oxide emissions
• Minimal particulate emissions

Since it’s produced from renewable organic waste, BioLNG not only helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also promotes sustainable waste management.

References:

• Paiton Energy. Accessed 2025. Potensi Limbah Organik untuk Energi Bersih di Indonesia
• DLH Kabupaten Buleleng. Accessed 2025. 10 Contoh Sampah Organik di Sekitar Kita
• Green Create. Accessed 2025. Our Green Solution: Bio LNG
• Nordsol. Accessed 2025. What is bio-LNG and How Is It Made?

Sustainable energy availability plays a vital role in powering various sectors, from households and transportation to industry.

However, this high energy demand is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels. While fossil energy may be a current solution, it unfortunately brings with it serious environmental issues.

So, what’s the answer for our future? It’s time we take alternative energy sources seriously. These energy types offer advantages that fossil fuels simply can’t match.

Curious about what makes alternative energy superior? Let’s dive into the full breakdown and explore the challenges in making it a reality.

What Are Some Examples of Alternative Energy?

Alternative energy refers to sources of power that serve as substitutes for fossil fuels.

Although often confused with renewable energy, not all alternative energy sources are renewable. Still, both aim to reduce our reliance on environmentally harmful resources like coal and petroleum.

Alternative energy holds enormous potential as a stepping stone toward a more sustainable energy system. Many of these sources are abundant and can naturally replenish themselves.

Here are some key examples of alternative energy sources that could replace fossil fuels:

• Geothermal energy: harnessing heat from within the Earth
• Hydropower: using the force of moving water
• Nuclear energy: generated through atomic fission
• Solar energy: converting sunlight via solar panels
• Wind energy: captured from air movement through turbines
• Biomass: derived from organic materials like agricultural waste and wood

All of these energy sources share one major advantage over fossil fuels: they produce significantly lower carbon emissions, making them ideal for a greener future.

Read More: The Crucial Role of Alternative Electricity Sources in Shaping Our Future

What Makes Alternative Energy Better Than Fossil Fuels?

Alternative energy presents a powerful opportunity for the shift to cleaner, more sustainable energy.

Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite and damaging to the environment, alternative energy sources are naturally renewable and more eco-friendly.

Here are some of the top advantages of alternative energy compared to fossil fuels:

Environmentally Friendly

Alternative energy sources produce far fewer carbon emissions than fossil fuels. Because many are derived from natural elements like sunlight and wind, they don’t contribute significantly to air or water pollution.

Unlimited Supply

Sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower are naturally replenished and won’t run out. This makes alternative energy far more sustainable in the long run compared to the limited reserves of fossil fuels.

Lower Long-Term Operating Costs

Once the infrastructure is in place, alternative energy systems typically have lower operational costs. Unlike fossil fuels, which require ongoing fuel input, solar and wind energy continue generating power without needing constant refueling.

Read More: The Best Energy Alternative to Fossil Fuels: Is LNG the Answer?

Challenges in Implementing Alternative Energy

Despite its promising future, implementing alternative energy comes with several hurdles.

One major barrier is the high upfront cost. Building infrastructure, like solar panels, wind turbines, or hydropower stations, requires significant investment, especially in areas lacking existing support systems.

Additionally, many renewable sources, such as solar and wind, are weather-dependent and not always consistent. That’s why energy storage technologies are critical.

Geographical and social factors can also pose challenges. Not all locations are suitable for every type of energy. In some cases, energy projects like wind farms or dams may disrupt local ecosystems or even displace communities.

Read More: The Negative Impacts of Petroleum

The Role of LNG in the Energy Transition

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is one energy source that offers a relatively stable supply and is easy to distribute due to existing infrastructure.

LNG is also highly versatile, used for everything from power generation to fueling ships.

From an environmental perspective, LNG produces fewer carbon emissions than coal or oil, making it a cleaner alternative that helps reduce global warming.

As we transition toward fully renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydro, which require time and advanced technologies, LNG can serve as a crucial bridge.

It can help fill the energy gap with a lower environmental impact compared to traditional fossil fuels.

References:

• Media Indonesia. Accessed 2025. 10 Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Air Terbesar di Indonesia
• Sun Energy. Accessed 2025. Mengenal Macam-Macam Energi Alternatif
• Atonergi. Accessed 2025. Keuntungan Menggunakan Energi Alternatif

Deforestation is no longer an issue we can ignore. Year after year, the numbers keep rising. According to data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, forest loss reached 121,100 hectares in 2023 and surged to 175,400 hectares in 2024.

Forests are vital for life on Earth. They absorb carbon, regulate the climate, and support biodiversity. Imagine what would happen if these roles continued to decline each year. Of course, extreme weather, landslides, and other natural disasters would become more frequent.

While preventing deforestation entirely may be difficult, we can still reduce its impact. One solution is transitioning to cleaner energy sources like LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). But how exactly can LNG help save our planet? Let’s find out.

Why Does Deforestation Happen?

Put simply, deforestation is the conversion of forested areas into non-forest land. In Indonesia, several key factors contribute to deforestation, including plantation expansion, forest fires, mining, and excessive natural resource extraction.

Another major driver is the high rate of logging, which leads to widespread forest loss. As forests are cleared to make way for agriculture, industry, and settlements, their vital ecological functions are stripped away.

Palm oil plantations are a major contributor to shrinking forests. Additionally, government-sponsored transmigration programs have led to the conversion of forest areas into residential zones.

Read More: 5 Signs of Global Warming: Its Symptoms Are Getting Worse

What Are the Dangerous Impacts of Deforestation?

Forests are home to complex ecosystems and play a crucial role in sustaining life on Earth. That’s why deforestation presents so many serious threats to ecological, social, and economic systems.

1. Loss of Biodiversity

Natural forest habitats are slowly being destroyed. Millions of plant and animal species are at risk of extinction as they lose their homes. The collapse of ecosystems threatens the delicate balance of nature.

This leads to long-term consequences for humans, such as food sources and medicinal plants becoming increasingly rare.

2. Worsening Climate Change

Forests act as natural carbon sinks. When they are destroyed, their ability to absorb carbon disappears, releasing even more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As a result, the planet warms up at an accelerated pace.

This is why deforestation is a major contributor to climate change and global warming. It also disrupts natural balance, leading to floods, landslides, droughts, and storms that put human lives at risk.

Read More: The Main Causes of Climate Change and Its Devastating Impact on Earth

3. Disrupted Water Sources

Forests help regulate the water cycle. Without them, rainwater can no longer be absorbed into the ground properly. This leads to higher surface runoff, which causes floods during rainy seasons and severe droughts during dry ones.

4. Landslides and Soil Erosion

Deforestation increases the risk of landslides and erosion, especially in mountainous regions where tree roots stabilize the soil. When trees are cut down, the soil loses its cohesion and becomes vulnerable to rain, making landslides more likely.

Read More: The Process of Global Warming: From the Beginning to Its Impact

5. Socioeconomic Impacts

Communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods lose vital resources when forests are cleared. This results in economic hardship, both immediate and long-term. Wider socioeconomic consequences include forced migration, social conflict, economic losses, environmental degradation, and disruptions in tourism and global trade.

6. Rise in Zoonotic Diseases

As deforestation destroys animal habitats, wildlife is forced to move closer to human settlements. This increases the risk of zoonotic diseases, illnesses transmitted from animals to humans.

When wild animals lose their homes, they start searching for food and shelter in urban areas, raising the risk of new disease outbreaks.

7. Changes in Local Climate

Beyond global impacts, deforestation also alters microclimates at the local level. It can change wind patterns, raise local temperatures, and reduce humidity. Forests help balance atmospheric carbon and prevent excessive warming. When they disappear, this natural regulation breaks down, speeding up the effects of global warming.

Read More: Why the Energy Crisis Poses a Serious Threat to the Global Economy?

How LNG Can Help Mitigate the Effects of Deforestation?

With deforestation already occurring at massive scales, we must now face its consequences, chief among them, the rise in atmospheric carbon emissions that fuel climate change and global warming.

To prevent emissions from getting worse, one of the most strategic steps we can take is switching to lower-emission energy sources, like LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).

Coal and petroleum combustion are among the top contributors to high carbon emissions. In the midst of a deforestation crisis, continuing to rely on these “dirty” energy sources only accelerates environmental damage.

LNG, on the other hand, is a cleaner transitional fuel. It produces about 50% less carbon dioxide than coal when burned, making it a far more sustainable option.

That’s why many developed countries have made LNG a key part of their clean energy policies. Its flexibility and low-emission profile make LNG a powerful bridge toward a greener energy future.

References:

• Kementerian Kehutanan. Accessed 2025. Hutan dan Deforestasi Indonesia Tahun 2024
• IEC. Accessed 2025. Mengenal Deforestasi: Penyebab, 5 Bahaya dan Dampaknya
• Forest Digest. Accessed 2025. Dampak Deforestasi Terhadap Kita
• Solar Industri. Accessed 2025. Mengenal Lingkungan sebagai Gas Alam Ramah Lingkungan