Life cycle assessment of refuse‐derived fuel from municipal solid waste for co‐firing in power generation in Indonesia: A cradle‐to‐gate analysis of global warming potential and carbon avoidance

The increasing generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Indonesia poses significant environmental challenges, including the accumulation of organic waste in landfills that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, while simultaneously offering opportunities for renewable energy production. Converting MSW into refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) for co‐firing in coal‐fired power plants provides a dual benefit by reducing waste accumulation and supplying a low‐carbon energy source. This study evaluates the environmental performance of RDF using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, with a functional unit of one ton of RDF and a cradle‐to‐gate system boundary encompassing all processes from waste collection to delivery at the power plant gate. Global warming potential (GWP) was assessed using the Centrum voor Milieukunde – Impact Assessment (CML‐IA) baseline method. Primary data were collected directly from waste handling and RDF production activities in Banten, Indonesia. Secondary data, it obtained from scientific literature and the Ecoinvent 3.8 with allocation at the point of substitution system model. The life cycle impact assessment GWP of RDF was determined to be 7.49 kg CO 2 eq per ton, with coarse grinding identified as the primary hotspot, contributing 2.72 kg CO 2 eq, followed by transportation to the power plant at 2.10 kg CO 2 eq. Potential avoided emissions were quantified at 773.56 kg CO 2 eq per ton of MSW per year, representing a reduction of approximately 99.9%. These results highlight RDF's dual role as a renewable energy source and an effective waste‐management, demonstrating its substantial climate mitigation potential and supporting sustainable energy policies in Indonesia.