Introduction
Empty fruit bunch (EFB) is a kind of biomass formed during the production process of palm oil. EFB that used to be disposed of as waste has recently been used as fuel as quantities have increased. Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are producing about 60 million metric tons of EFB yearly.
APPLICATION OF EFB
Empty fruit bunches (EFB) are valuable palm oil mill waste that can be used to produce energy in the form of Biocoal. Therefore, efficient utilization of these biomass resources is essential to optimize the profitability of the industry while addressing environmental issues.
Throughout 8-10 years of R&D into this highly specialized field of non-woody based biomass, SSGE managed to develop a unique production technology to specifically deal with application of the EFB material as input to produce the Biocoal . Positioning SSGE as the forefront technological breakthrough which is unmatched by its rivals. Hence, Commercialization of the first production plant is underway in Malaysia.
REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Due to the different processes involved which to certain extent discourage applicants to apply EFB as the based biomass to produce Biocoal . This results in the negative consequences to the environment which includes :
- Uncollected EFB in the field can biodegrade to create CH4 to the atmosphere.
- Open field burning can create harmful CO2.
- Randomly discarded in the open space can cause environmental problems.
PRODUCTION PLANNING AND PRODUCTION
As part of the expansion program, SSGE has decided to set up a production plant in Malaysia by using EFB as the input to produce the Biocoal . The production technology is mature to enter into commercialized production due to be taken place soon.
Depending upon the market demand, production volume can be rapidly increased to meet the global market demand for the Biocoal – cuttting the CO2 emission.
CONTRIBUTING TO THE ECONOMIC GROWTH
As a result of massive utilization of EFB as the main raw material to produce Biocoal , SSGE will commit to contributing to the development of the local and national economies as follows:
- Creating jobs directly or indirectly locally.
- Improving local community’s social infrastructure.
- Extra earning to the local farmers.
- Contributing to the prosperity of the local economy.
- Adding additional contribution to the national foreign exchange earnings.
- Boosting the global awareness of Malaysia as the major Biocoal hub.
ALTERNATIVE CLEAN FUEL TO REPLACE FOSSIL COAL
As the global awareness of the severe problem associated with the CO2 and CH4 emission resulting from the continued burning of fossil coal, SSGE is participating in reducing both emissions to preserve a better and a cleaner planet for the next generation to live in.
Hence, power plants and other industrial boilers are either mandatorily requested to use renewable energy to partially or completely replace fossil coal. In response to the Paris Climate Change Protocol, SSGE is in anticipation of playing a vital role to produce a renewable energy -Biocoal which can only completely replace fossil coal to combat the global warming as time goes by – avoiding the de-commissioning of the coal combusted power plants.
TECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF EFB BIOCOAL
In order to prove that EFB based Biocoal is economical and efficiently applicable in power plant, the important technical parameters that are commonly in line with the general requirements of the power plant and the industrial boiler operators are fully complied with.