From Dead Palms to Sustainable Energy Solutions: How Asia Is Maximizing Biomass Fuel

In eastern Asia, dead palms lay forgotten in fields, waiting to become a beacon of sustainable energy. Fortunately, researchers are taking advantage of these found materials, discovering ways they could revolutionize biomass power generation. The promising findings are cursory steps in reducing the need for virgin materials and eliminating the negative side effects of biofuel production.

—

Malaysia and Japan’s Palm Experiments

Researchers in Malaysia and Japan are trying to renew biomass energy with felled palm trees. The concept has been in development since 2018, and operations are currently unfolding in southern Malaysia, in the town of Kluang. Although trees, particularly palms, appear to be a promising source of biomass feedstock, they are burdened with impurities that render them less suitable for processing.

The partnering universities put dead palm trunks into a machine, grinding them down into fiber piles within seconds. Their machine would remove impurities in the process, shaping the powder into pellets for boilers.

From a reduction perspective, Asian palms have a distinct advantage over other biomass feedstocks. Their water content is between 70-80%, making them soft and easier to mulch. Additionally, they contain tons of sap, which opens the door for more sustainable applications, such as green aviation fuels. Any unused materials can be repurposed as fertilizer, assisting local agriculture.

The studies clarify that biofuel is not the only application for dead palms. Furniture makers could lower deforestation rates by crafting pieces from these sturdy trunks. A wood board company sent its palm-originated boards to 15 furniture makers to test on a variety of pieces. Japan has successfully manufactured and sold palm-based items since 2022, demonstrating their commercial potential.

Better Biomass

Biofuels and biomass production may become more prevalent renewable energy generators on the planet. However, several problems keep them from reaching their full potential. The palm tree research provides a glimpse into what needs repairing within the biomass sector to make it more sustainable and circular.

Should trees remain in groves to support healthy soils and encourage new growth? While this is the logic for many plant varieties, decomposing palms may invite more harm than good. In their wake, termites and other unwelcome fungi flourish. Additionally, each tree releases 1.3 tons of greenhouse gasses as it dies, making it more impactful to repurpose them before they do.

One issue these experts solve is palm oil’s negative environmental impact. It is among the most hot-button topics in sustainability as the world’s most used vegetable-based oil. Malaysia and Indonesia are top users of the product, making the research’s impact more meaningful. Naturally, this outfit requires swaths of palm groves, which have overtaken countless acres of land and destroyed other forests to make room for this profitable venture.

The land needed to meet global palm oil demand increased tenfold between 1970 and 2020, totaling 30 million hectares. This is more than any other vegetable oil crop, including soybeans, sunflowers and coconuts. Extracting necessary resources from these dead palms is a sustainable option for the palm oil and biomass market. 

More on the topic: The Challenges of Sustainable Palm Oil Production and Consumption

Palm Tree Progress

The research provides an optimistic perspective on the future of palm oil and environmental rehabilitation. But what do stakeholders need to make it commercially viable?

Palm tree recycling looks good on paper, but it is never sustainable to transport heavy trees long distances to recycling plants. Machinery is also resource-intensive. The equipment required for oil palm field cultivation accounts for 96.08% of its energy. The damage caused at this phase would make a life cycle analysis for these materials look unsustainable. Even for recycled palm trees, the entire value chain and all scopes of emissions would need to be accounted for.

The circular mindset of tree recycling will need to be paired with technological shifts, like electrification or lean processing practices to reduce waste and energy consumption.

These experts and biotechnologists can only see their vision come to life by partnering with oil extractors and grove managers. A compelling pitch must incentivize them to dispose of their waste ethically. If they hand their products to recyclers, then they could get low- to no-cost resources in return. 

The setup is probable because it benefits all parties by appealing to corporate interests. Dead palm recycling stakeholders can convince them further by suggesting it will help adhere to environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks with minimal effort.

Commercial and Consumer Impact

The implications of the palm oil research will change how people purchase palm-based products. Sustainable certifications and labels are one of the most critical components of any corporate social responsibility strategy, so it will not be long before these materials receive similar third-party checks. An external evaluation will prove palm materials are properly recycled and grown in ethical operations, akin to the responsibilities of the Forest Stewardship Council. 

As these guidelines become clarified, eco-friendly palm wood could be used to make carbon-friendly flooring, food products, biofuel pellets or construction materials. Eventually, a sustainable offering will be created to combat palm products made from environmentally destructive sources. 

However, the most significant impact will be on cost-effective, accessible biomass feedstocks. Boilers and stoves could now accept palm products when it was a challenge before because of impurities. There were few examples of manufacturing outfits producing palm-based biomass products at scale, and many default to compressed wood or other options. 

Buyers from all perspectives will also feel a reduction in climate anxiety and the weight of individual responsibility. Researchers show workers harvested only 10% of fresh fruit bunches from Malaysian palms. Typically, the remainder contributes to palm groves’ carbon footprints as they die, as milling equipment and operations remain inefficient. When companies recycle dead palms and get more out of each tree, consumers will feel less guilty about these items.

Dead Plant Research Is on Fire

Malaysia and Japan could see palm tree recycling facilities operate in the coming years. The advancement inspires corporations to find accessible implementations to boost sustainability in one of the most toxic sectors.

It also alleviates the burden on businesses and individual consumers, who fear their adverse climate impact of palm oil. These efforts should catalyze further creative ideation in the biomass and biofuel world to reduce overfarming and deforestation.