Waste from Palm Oil

Biomass accounts for approximately 15% of global primary energy use and 38% of the primary energy use in developing countries. More than 80% of biomass energy is used by more than two billion consumers, many of whom have no access to modern energy services. However, in some agricultural industries, large concentrations of biomass waste can be utilised for power and heat production, thereby providing access to modern energy services. The palm oil industry produces significant amounts of empty fruit bunches that can be incinerated, as well as liquid wastes that may be mechanized and secure a basis for own power and process heat production while delivering excess power to the grid.

Description of technology

The palm oil industry produces large amounts of solid waste from empty fruit bunches (EFB), kernels and fibres, as well as liquid waste, normally referred to as POME (Palm Oil Mill Effluent) – a liquid waste with a high content of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). If not utilised, the waste creates a disposal problem. However, the waste may be turned into valuable fuel through incineration in a boiler, allowing the production of process heat and power for oil production (captive power and heat production). Alternatively, by composting POME, methane emissions may be avoided.

Incineration of Solid Waste

Using the palm oil solid waste – EFB, crushed kernels and fibres – for electricity and steam generation involves the construction of a boiler, a steam turbine and a generator and auxiliary facilities such as a water demineralisation plant, a cooling tower, air pollution control devices and EFB storage yard. In some cases the cooling tower may be replaced by a heat exchanger, allowing the utilisation of waste heat when there is a demand for low-temperature process heating (e.g. for drying) or cooling in the area where the palm oil mill is located. Very often such power production replaces captive diesel power generation at the plant, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Composting of POME

In order to avoid methane production from the liquid palm oil waste (POME) high concentrations of oxygen are needed to create aerobic conditions. The most common way of treating POME is to store it in open lagoons (ponds), where the waste sinks to the bottom and releases methane into the air. The water will gradually be released into a river, to keep a constant level in the pond. Composting POME is rather simple: the empty fruit bunches are collected and added to the liquid POME, along with plenty of air, which initiates the composting process. The composting process is completed in 10-12 weeks, depending on temperature, oxygen level, etc., at which time the compost can be used as fertilizer at the palm plantation. The composting eliminates, or reduces significantly, the methane production and the greenhouse effect of palm oil production simply by exchanging methane, which has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 21, with CO₂ which has a GWP of 1.

Sub-types:

• Palm Oil Solid Waste
• Palm Oil Waste

Methodologies

• Palm Oil Solid Waste
  • Large Scale
    • ACM0002
    • ACM0006
    • AM0036
    • AM0039
    • AM0057
  • Small Scale
    • AMS-I.C.
    • AMS-I.D
    • AMS-III.E.
    • AMS-III.G.
    • AMS-III.H.
    • AMS-III.F.
    • AMS-I.A.
• Palm Oil Waste
  • Large Scale
    • AM0025
  • Small Scale
    • AMS-I.C.
    • AMS-I.D.
    • AMS-III.H.