Fast Pyrolysis 5.0 Technology Turns Plastic Waste into Fuel (Petasol)

The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is accelerating the replication of technology that converts plastic waste into liquid fuel equivalent to diesel, called Petasol, through the implementation of the Fast Pyrolysis 5.0 machine. This technology is expected to provide a sustainable solution to the plastic waste problem while offering an alternative fuel source for communities, particularly fishermen and farmers.

The application of this technology was developed by BRIN’s Research Organization for Energy and Manufacturing (OREM) in collaboration with the Semarang City Government and the Central Java Provincial Government. BRIN’s Deputy for Regional Research and Innovation, Yopi, stated that the implementation of the Fast Pyrolysis 5.0 machine in Semarang serves as a successful example of technology business model replication because it involves multiple stakeholders.

“BRIN provides assistance in strengthening planning and development in the regions. This replication is a collaborative model involving city governments, community groups, and associations, and it is validated by BRIN so that it can be implemented in other locations,” Yopi explained.

Meanwhile, Member of BRIN’s Steering Council, Tri Mumpuni, emphasized the importance of collaboration between BRIN and the Central Java Provincial Government’s Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) in efforts to reduce plastic waste while creating local economic opportunities.

“The hope is that through this plastic waste management collaboration, it can increase income by having plastic waste collected through waste banks, then processed into liquid fuel that has selling value for local residents. The downstream processing will be managed by BRIDA, the Provincial Government, and the Semarang City Government,” she said during her visit to the plastic waste pyrolysis processing site at the Kemijen Bahagia Waste Bank, Kalibanger, Semarang on Monday (5/5).

Tri Mumpuni added that the fast pyrolysis technology was initially developed by the Banjarnegara Waste Bank and has now reached other locations, including Semarang. “In the future, government regulatory support is needed so that every regional government has the right to distribute Petasol for the needs of fishermen and farmers, who can obtain it from waste banks in their respective areas,” she added.

On the same occasion, Head of OREM BRIN, Cuk Supriyadi, explained that processing plastic waste into fuel has great potential to solve the plastic waste problem and has a high level of sustainability. “The Faspol Generation 5 machine has advanced compared to previous generations. The fuel produced is already close to oil and gas standards, so it can be tested on vehicles,” he said.

According to him, in the development of the fast pyrolysis machine, BRIN plays a role in providing technical assistance so that the technology can operate perfectly. “Various Petasol testing efforts have been carried out, including from the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) aspect, a cetane level of 51, to trial use on fishermen’s boat engines, garbage transport service vehicles, and agricultural tractors,” Cuk explained.

Meanwhile, Tri Martini Patria, a researcher at BRIN’s Center for Research on Sustainable Production Systems and Life Cycle Assessment (PR SPBPDH), explained that this research has been conducted since 2022. According to her, the thermal processing in the pyrolysis method was carried out with various environmental tests and by utilizing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools. Emission measurements were performed by the BRIN research team using a portable multi-gas detector RIKEN type RX 8500 and RX 8700.

“The results of the LCA study from cradle to gate for Petasol do not disturb the environment because the combustion is perfect, it does not produce open burning smoke, it minimizes contamination during waste sorting, and reduces the odor generated during the combustion process,” Tri Martini explained.

The Petasol brand already has a Copyright Certificate, and the name Faspol has also received a Patent Registration mark from the Directorate General of Intellectual Property. Petasol quality tests have also been conducted at BRIN’s Laboratory, Lemigas, and Diponegoro University.

At the end, Martini emphasized that this activity is part of the downstreaming of innovation and technology based on strengthening waste bank communities in rural areas. “One stroke of the paddle gets a clean environment, with the bonus of alternative fuel, namely Petasol. The implementation of this innovation model is expected to become a solution for farmers and fishermen to obtain diesel engine fuel, as is the case in the coastal areas of Semarang City,” she concluded.

Fast Pyrolysis Technology Officially Arrives in Karimunjawa, Turning Plastic Waste into Petasol

Karimunjawa now officially has technology to convert plastic waste into fuel equivalent to diesel, known as Petasol. The technology was introduced and its operation officially inaugurated on Friday (17/10/2025) through the launch of a Faspol (Fast Pyrolysis) machine with a capacity of 50 kilograms per cycle, installed at the PDU Karimunjawa. The Jepara Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) had the opportunity to attend and participate in the inauguration of the Fast Pyrolysis machine and to test the use of Petasol on various existing machinery.

Faspol was developed by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and is being implemented through collaboration with the Banjarnegara Waste Bank (BSB). The machine used is a sixth-generation prototype resulting from modifications with an overhead furnace system, specifically designed to convert low-value plastics into Petasol.

The launch of this technology was followed by direct performance testing of the processing output using three machines simultaneously. Petasol was tested on the Dongfeng engine belonging to PDU Karimunjawa, an excavator at the Karimunjawa Final Disposal Site (TPA), and local fishermen’s boats. The performance tests were conducted using pure Petasol, with no addition of Pertamina diesel.

The trials were directly led by Prof. Dr. Cuk Supriyadi Alinandar, SR., M.Eng., Head of the Research Organization for Energy and Manufacturing at BRIN. These tests proved that Petasol is capable of replacing diesel in various equipment, including operational vehicles and fishermen’s transportation.

In addition to reducing plastic waste accumulation, the Faspol technology is expected to address the problem of fuel distribution in Karimunjawa, which is frequently disrupted, especially during the western monsoon season. Fishermen have long faced difficulties going to sea due to delays in diesel supply caused by bad weather.

The Jepara Regency Government, through Expert Staff for PKSDM Mr. Sridana Paminto, expressed appreciation to BRIN, Pertamina Gas Negara through its CSR program PGN Share, the BSB team, Central Java BRIDA, and the Central Java TPPD Team for the successful implementation of this technology. 

“We hope that the utilization of this technology does not stop at the inauguration, but will be followed up with sustainable continuation,” he said while delivering the welcome speech on behalf of the Jepara Regent.

Improving the technical capacity of human resources at PDU Karimunjawa also received attention to ensure the continued operation of the 50-kilogram Faspol machine. The local government hopes that the presence of this technology will become the starting point for solutions to reduce waste and achieve energy self-sufficiency in Karimunjawa.