RTP Bio-Oil As a Renewable Power Source

Renewable energy is a form of energy which comes from natural resources such as wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat, where the source of energy can be reproduced. It also can come from agricultural waste or feedstock which later can be converted into value-added products. A distinct example of renewable energy is bio-oil, a product that derived from oil palm biomass through a chemical process.

Bio-oil produced from RTP™ can economically replace the current transportation fuel, as it can be used to fuel a turbine and specific diesel engines to produce power. It also can replace natural gas, and/or coal in boilers, in either co-fired or sole fuel configuration. As a renewable energy product, it is economical without subsidy at today's fossil fuel prices. It can be referred as an economical RTP bio-oil, which can replace the current fuel based on similar characteristics to fuel machines.

To date, oil palm biomass has been major source in producing biofuel. Lots of research has been conducted in order to convert the biomass into biofuel, notably biodiesel. Not only the oil from the oil palm is used but fronds, empty fruit bunches and palm kernel shells harvested from oil palm plantations were proposed into conversion to renewable energy. By using both the biomass from the plantation as well as the processing residues from palm oil production (fibers, kernel shells, and palm oil mill effluent), bio-energy from palm plantations can have an effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By using palm biomass to generate renewable energy, fuels and biodegradable products, the balance of energy and greenhouse emissions is improved. Oil palm plantations incinerate biomass to generate power for palm oil mills. In efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, scientists treat palm oil mill effluent to extract biogas which later can be used as energy source for various products.

After purification process, biogas can substitute for natural gas for use at factories. One example on biogas production is anaerobic treatment of palm oil mill effluent results in the production biomass degrading bacteria that produce methane, a form of biogas. It plays an important role in methane production which leads to the production of biogas as renewable fuel.

Conversion of waste into wealth has been garnering attention since it is economical and helps to solve environmental problems. Agricultural waste for example oil palm biomass has been used to create another source of energy, that is safer, cost-effective and efficient in terms of the performance. It also can reduce the cost of production since it is a continuous process.

Premium Renewable Energy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., also known as PRE Malaysia focuses on the production of bio-oil from oil palm biomass as a source of green renewable energy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5420299

Rapid Thermal Processing to Convert Oil Palm Biomass Into a Premium Renewable Energy Source

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Rapid Thermal Processing or "RTP™" is a process which adds value to biomass. In this particular case, it can be used to convert oil palm biomass into bio-oil, which can then be served to other purposes such as a renewable source of energy. Large-scale experiments have shown that the quality and yield of the resulting bio-oil is so viable, it can be considered as a premium renewable energy. Among the intended uses being renewable transport fuels. This method of producing a renewable source of energy is based on the introduction of heat to efficiently convert oil palm biomass to produce high value products. The result is a premium renewable energy source which can be used for various purposes including power generators, green diesel and can even replace jet fuel.

The conversion of oil-palm biomass through RTP™ technology in producing a renewable energy source of fuel such as bio-oil is currently under research and development. Such pyrolysis technology exists, and has operated on a long-term commercial basis which converts the solid biomass to liquid in less than two seconds. The result is simply renewable energy from oil palm biomass. Basically, it is a fast thermal process where the biomass is introduced into a vessel and rapidly heated to 500 deg C by a tornado of hot sand and then rapidly cooled within seconds. It generates a relatively high yield (up to 75% per weight of biomass) of pourable, liquid "bio-oil" from residual forestry or agricultural product, in this case oil palm biomass. Pyrolysis technology exploits the thermo-chemical process of decomposing organic material at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen. It typically occurs under pressure and operates at high temperatures (above 430 deg C).

This process is the basis of several methods that are being developed for producing premium renewable energy from oil palm biomass. The process is self-sustaining as it is economical, where the byproducts produced from this process are used to generate much of the heat and power required to operate the unit. It produces very little byproducts: notably char which is consumed internally to generate the required heat for the rapid thermal process; and gas, which can be used for drying the incoming biomass or for heating integration into the overall facility. From here it is clear that rapid thermal processing in converting oil palm biomass into a premium renewable energy source provides an answer to the energy debate. The resulting clean renewable energy can be used to replace fossil fuels without the expense of changing the infrastructure of fuel engine technology, like the issue with bio-diesel. Faiz Suberi is currently a consultant for Premium Renewable Energy (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Also known as PRE Malaysia, they focus on the production of bio-oil from oil palm biomass as a source of green renewable energy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5118670

Expanding The Palm Oil Industry In Malaysia

The government remains committed to increasing and improving the country's palm oil sector, the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) in the Prime Minister's Department said in its 2012 Annual Report of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

The Palm Oil National Key Economic Area (NKEA), Malaysia's most important commodity is expected to contribute from RM125 billion to RM178 billion to the Gross National Income (GNI) and create about 41,600 jobs by 2020, with the government's focus on eight Entry Point Projects (EPPs).

It said palm oil production has surged in recent decades, owing to the success and support of research and development activities in developing higher-yielding, top quality crops by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). The eight EPPs have been outlined by the government under the palm oil NKEA to drive the sector's growth and its role as a central element of the national economy.

This week Business Circle talks to Tan Sri Dato' Seri Lee Oi Hian - Chief Executive Officer of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad and Ku Kok Peng - Director, Palm Oil & Rubber, NKEA & ETP Investment, PEMANDU on the possibilities available for Malaysia through Palm Oil Industry.

Fuel Properties of Normal and Low Pour Point Palm BioDiesel

Golden Oil from Green Agriculture, Malaysian Palm Oil

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Sustainable Palm Oil Developments In Malaysia, Part 5: Practices Adopted By Oil Palm Industry

Several practices have been adopted by the Malaysian oil palm industry to enhance the sustainability of the industry, such as:

• Adopting Environmental Policies and requirements
• Implementing Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)
• Implementing Codes of Practices (COPs)
• Completed MPOB LCA Studies along oil palm supply chain
• Conservation efforts

Adopting Environmental Policies and requirements:

 
The oil palm industry in Malaysia is highly regulated according to the law of the land. These include laws pertaining to;

• Land Matters:
• National Land Code 1965
• Land Acquisition Act 1960
• Environmental Matters:
• Environmental Land Conservation Act 1960 revised in 1989
• Quality Act 1974 (Environmental Quality) (Prescribed Premises) (Crude Palm Oil) Regulation 1977
• Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulation 1978
• Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987
• Labour and Employee Matters:
• Labor Law
• Workers’ Minimum Standard of Housing & Amenities Act 1990
• Occupational Safety & Health Act 1977
• Pesticide Use:
• Pesticides Act 1974 (Pesticides Registration) Rules 1988
• Pesticides (Licensing for sale & storage) Rules 1988
• Pesticides (Labeling) Regulations 1984
• Factories & Machinery (Noise Exposure) Regulations 1989
• Wildlife Matters:
• Protection of Wildlife Act 1972

Implementing of Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)

• Recycling of oil palm biomass and optimization of fertilizer inputs
• Adopting Zero Burning & Re-planting Policy: accumulation of soil carbon in the plantation
• Land Management & planting of leguminous cover crops
• High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF)
• Integrated Pest Management
• POME treatment system

Several of GAPs adopted by the Malaysian oil palm industry

•  Maintain riparian reserve
• Water management
• Cover Crop
• Zero burning policy
• Organic fertilizer (EFB)
• EFB as compost

Integrated Pest management (IPM)

• Effective IPM system for the management of pest, diseases, weeds and introduced species
• Use of natural predators & beneficial plants
• Use of barn own to control rats
• Use of natural biopesticides – Metarhizzium Bt to control pesticides (bagworm)
• Decreased reliance on harmful chemical pesticides
• Only approved chemicals are used when required

POME treatment system

Capturing biogas at oil palm mills produce electricity for supply to the national grid or for their own use at the mills. Biogas from mills contains 65% methane and 35% carbon dioxide. Implementing biogas capture facility will avoid biogas emission of about 17 million tonnes of CO2 eq.

Under National Key Economic Area (NKEA), all oil palm mills in Malaysia will be equipped with biogas capture facilities by 2020.

Status of biogas captures facilities as of April 2012;

• Plants in operation: 51
• Under construction: 20
• Under planning: 109

Launching of Code of Practices throughout the supply chain by MPOB, in August 2007 by Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, covering 7 Codes of Practices (COPs):

• Good Practice for Nursery
• Good Agricultural Practice for Oil Palm Estates & Smallholdings
• Good Milling Practice for Palm Oil Mills
• Good Crushing Practice for Palm Kernel Crushers
• Good Refining Practice for Palm Oil Refineries
• Good Practice for the Handling, Transport and Storage of Products from the Oil Palm
• Good Practice for Bulking Installations

MPOB LCA study for oil palm products including biodiesel had been completed.

• Publication of LCA studies can be found under Biodiesel Resource

Conservation efforts in preserving biodiversity;

• Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund (MPOWCF): US$ 5.6 million managed by Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC).

Aims to:

• Help finance appropriate wildlife and biodiversity conservation activities;
• Study the effectiveness of conservation efforts on wildlife and biodiversity;
• Promote our own initiatives on conservation and sustainability activities that will enhance the production of palm oil;
• Help NGOs achieve their objectives on conservation,biodiversity and sustainability;
• Enhance the promotion of conservation and sustainability initiatives for the benefit of the Malaysian Palm Oil producers and consumers throughout the world.

Kinabatangan River- Corridor of Life in Sabah

• The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah and its landscape is very important for its biodiversity. It is home to over 250 bird, 50 mammal, 20 reptile, and 1,056 plant species. It is one of two places on earth where 10 primate species can be found together, including the orang-utan, proboscis monkey and the Bornean gibbon (the other apparently being in the Cuyabeno Reserve in Ecuadorian Amazonia).
• The Malaysian oil palm industry is also working with WWF on the Corridor of Life. We fully support its vision towards sustainable development

Several new initiatives have emerged in pursuit of sustainability, and these include:

• Publication of the Sustainability Manual for the oil palm industry developed by MPOB and the industry members.
• Establishment of Tropical Peat Institute covering 3 areas of research which includes:
  • Inventory of peatland cultivation in Malaysia
  • Review on working program of GHG flux studies
  • Best management practice (BMP) of oil palm on peatland
• International Research Collaboration
• Collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Environment and Spatial Planning and University of Wageningen in the Netherlands on the tropical peatland projects
• Collaborative projects on biodiversity with the Netherlands
• Collaborative projects on carbon emission studies
• Introduction of the Roadmap for oil palm industry to enhance its competitiveness as part of oil palm NKEA (National Key Economic Area) covering 8 Entry Project Points (EPP).
• EPP1: Accelerating the replanting of oil palm
• EPP2: Improving Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) yield
• EPP3: Improving workers’ productivity
• EPP4: Increasing oil yield extraction
• EPP5: Developing biogas at the palm oil mills
• EPP6: Developing palm-based oleochemical derivatives
• EPP7: Commercializing of second generation biofuels
• EPP8: Expediting growth in food and health-based downstream segment. 

In addition, the industry-initiated Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) sees the active involvement of Malaysian oil palm plantation companies. To date, several Malaysian plantation companies have achieved RSPO-certification, including United Plantations Bhd, Business operating unit of Sime Darby Bhd (Sandakan Bay Strategic Operating Unit) and IOI Corporation (Pamol Plantation Group). 

Conclusion

Sustainable agriculture is not just environmentally sound land management practices, but is an integration of the three main goals of social responsibility, environmental health, and economic profitability. Malaysia is proud of being well on the way towards fulfilling the sustainable business triple bottom line of people, planet and profits. However, in pursuing the objectives of sustainability, the Malaysian oil palm industry does not want it to be abused as a trade barrier but welcomes a fair and balanced view on issues related to sustainability of palm oil.

 

Sustainable Palm Oil Developments In Malaysia, Part 4: Profit

In many developing countries, the development of natural resources is the only way to generate income necessary to meet the populations’ basic needs, let alone to make profit. The oil palm industry accounts for 5-6% of Malaysia’s GDP, and the importance of the industry to the country’s export earnings is very significant (Table 4)

Sustainable Palm Oil Developments In Malaysia, Part 3: Planet

In line with the element of protecting the planet, Malaysia places strong emphasis on the planet’s needs and is signatory to several international conventions, including the Convention on Biodiversity 1992 (CBD2), the International Tropical Timber Agreement, and the Charter of the Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of Tropical Forests.

The oil palm cultivation in Malaysia, is on legally designated agricultural land, and is only planted on land that is deemed suitable for long-term cultivation of this perennial crop. The rights of indigenous people’s and their land rights are protected by law. Hence, oil palm:

• is not cultivated on land gazetted as forest reserves, national parks, wildlife or game reserves. Permanent forests, covering 55.6% of Malaysia’s land remains devoted to wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation.
• has seen fewer new plantings on degraded logged-over land zoned for agriculture
• does not cause wanton forest destruction
• is often converted from other agricultural land uses (Table 3)

As part of the commitment towards preserving biodiversity, the Malaysian Palm Oil Wildlife Conservation Fund (MPOWF) of RM 20 million had been set up and has contributed toward programmes to protect the wildlife surrounding oil palm plantations, surveys on orang utan populations in Sabah, the establishment of Orang Utan Island Infant care centre and toward the improvement of riparian reserves. The Malaysian oil palm industry is also working with WWF on the Kinabatangan - Corridor of Life. The Kinabatangan River is the longest river in Sabah and its landscape is very important for its biodiversity. It is home to over 250 bird, 50 mammal, 20 reptile, and 1,056 plant species. It is one of two places on earth where 10 primate species can be found together, including the orang-utan, proboscis monkey and the Bornean gibbon (the other apparently being in the Cuyabeno Reserve in Ecuadorian Amazonia).

The Malaysian oil palm industry has shown that conservation and development are two complementary objectives that can balanced through sustainable resource management, supported by a regulatory framework. Indeed, the oil palm industry is well and truly regulated with a series of legalisation that covers land, environment, wildlife, labour and employee matters as well as the use of pesticides.

Sustainable Palm Oil Developments In Malaysia, Part 2: People

One major element of the Bruntland Commission’s definition of sustainability is that the needs of the poor in all nations must be met – hence, sustainability efforts should address the eradication of poverty. In this, respect, Malaysia’s oil palm industry is a great success story. The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), set up just over 50 years ago, was tasked with carrying out land development and resettling the landless in the country, and now has developed 853,313 ha of land and resettled 112,635 families (Ahmad Tarmizi, 2008).

More interestingly, Felda’s efforts have very successfully helped eradicate poverty amongst settlers, as illustrated by the data in Table 1. The success of the Felda scheme has helped ensure that the income levels of the scheme’s settlers has remained well above the national poverty line, with the gap between settlers’ mean income and the national poverty line widening consistently. 

The oil palm industry is a major source of employment, and as the planted area grew from 1.2 million hectares in 1980 to 4.69 million hectares in 2009 (a 3.9-fold increase) , the industry generated a 4.9-fold increase in employment (Table 2). Based on an estimated 5-persons per household, the total number of people in Malaysia dependent on the oil palm industry could well be around 2.26 million.

Hence, over the years, the oil palm industry has consistently contributed towards poverty eradication and narrowing of the income gap between rural and town-folk, created rural townships where workers reside and enjoy good quality of life with adequate social infrastructure (e.g. housing, health, religious facilities), contributed to social security and peace and reduced migration of labour force from the rural to urban areas.

Sustainable Palm Oil Developments In Malaysia, Part 1: Introduction

Sustainability, is a holistic concept, and encompasses three key elements, often referred to as the 3Ps. – the people, planet and profit. These key concepts are derived from the ‘Brundtland Commission’ (Brundtland, 1987) which stated that “sustainable development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present generation without compromising the ability to meet the needs of those in the future.” Based on this definition, sustainability is all about the efficient management of present resources to meet future needs. In the context of the Malaysian oil palm industry, “sustainability is all about the long-term security of the supply chain if the oil palm business is to continue with brand values and consumer trust. The Malaysian oil palm industry strives to strike a holistic balance between social, environmental and economic needs of country and people by in addressing the need for

• Social development of the Malaysian people
• Conservation and management of the environment
• Ensuring progress of the nation as a whole via economic development

Proper management of natural resources would help protect their biological production potential and help maintain future options for their use. Indeed, a major objective of sustainable land management is the harmonization of agricultural priorities with economic and environmental concerns (Dumanski and Smyth, 1993).

Sustainability Of The Oil Palm Industry In Malaysia

Given the holistic approach of the Malaysian government and the country’s oil palm industry towards sustainability, it is essential to consider how the 3Ps, namely People, Planet and Profits are addressed.

Is Biodiesel Made From Palm Oil Threatening ..?

Many environmental organisations and conservationists have been warning us that eating foods and using biodiesel made from palm oil is having a direct effect upon and threatening the survival of that much loved primate the Orangutan.

So what's all the fuss about?

Environmentalists have generally been largely supportive of the adoption of biodiesel because, apart from being biodegradable, it gives off fewer emissions when used in our vehicles. Not all biodiesel fuel is the same however, some are better than others in the way they are produced and environmental organisations have begun to question oil palm cultivation especially, in recent years, how large areas of natural rainforest have been cleared to make way for oil palm plantations. It is argued that apart from the loss of forest ecosystems, oil palm cultivation has become a major polluter on a local level due to indiscriminate use of petroleum based pesticides and fertilizers. This has lead to soils becoming so polluted over time that many previously fertile areas have become wastelands.

What has given rise to this deforestation?

Western governments have largely embraced the need to cut emissions and have set aggressive targets encompassing the use of so called first generation Biofuels made from food crops. The transportation sector has been singled out due to the fact it is a major volume source of carbon emissions. It could be argued that this has contributed directly to the rapid development of the Biofuels industry and marketplace. Also the rise in the cost of crude oil to record levels by mid 2008 meant palm oil has become an increasingly important agricultural crop in tropical countries with Malaysia and Indonesia seeing the opportunity for increased exploitation. These two countries account now for around 85% of palm oil production across the world. This area of the world is also the natural habitat of Orangutans and the increased deforestation is now a threat to their very existence.

But why is Palm Oil so important?

Quite simply oil palm is the most productive oil seed there is and it can produce over 10 times more crude oil per hectare than soybeans and over 20 times more than corn. Another factor making palm oil in increasing demand is apart from being used in Biodiesel production, it is also used as an ingredient in many other day to day household foodstuffs as well as cosmetics. Ironically, oil palm may be more ecologically friendly due its higher yield factor in theory requiring less land by a significant factor than traditional crops. Many environmental organisations, oil companies and western governments recognise this and are beginning to try to put the case to the local governments concerned.

But oil prices are going down now so will demand for palm oil drop?

Palm oil prices tend to move in step with the price of crude oil and during the second half of 2008 prices have fallen rapidly also as a result of the global recession demand for palm oil should slow down. Critically, does this mean we will see a slow down in the expansion of oil palm plantations? Supply and demand economics for palm oil suggest it should do, but the sceptics amongst us have maintained that oil palm development may in fact be a cover for something that is far more profitable - logging. In Indonesia millions of hectares of forest have been cleared for plantation development and plans are in place to double oil palm production over the next 15 to 20 years spilling over into Borneo. Logging is a much more profitable to both the logging companies and the local governments.

What of the Orangutans?
I'm not sure Orangutans understand the economics and politics in their region of the world. If they did then it is likely they would be putting pressure on the governments both locally and around the world to re-consider the plans they have for what is still the largest tropical rainforest in Asia. Perhaps the local agricultural ministers in question should look at the mounting pressure from the West, look to their conscience and re-evaluate all available information. Perhaps they would then realise that the long term survival of the regions biodiversity is not only crucial for local indigenous peoples but also our friendly Orangutans and who knows perhaps the very survival of our planet in the long term.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1723743

Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, RSPO

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was formed in 2004 with the objective of promoting the growth and use of sustainable oil palm products through credible global standards and engagement of stakeholders. The seat of the association is in Zurich, Switzerland, while the secretariat is currently based in Kuala Lumpur with a satellite office in Jakarta.

RSPO is a not-for-profit association that represents stakeholders from seven sectors of the palm oil industry - oil palm producers, palm oil processors or traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation NGOs and social or developmental NGOs - to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil.

Such multi-stakeholder representation is mirrored in the governance structure of RSPO such that seats in the Executive Board and project level Working Groups are fairly allocated to each sector. In this way, RSPO lives out the philosophy of the "roundtable" by giving equal rights to each stakeholder group to bring group-specific agendas to the roundtable, facilitating traditionally adversarial stakeholders and business competitors to work together towards a common objective and making decisions by consensus

The organization holds an annual meeting called RT or Round Table Meetings to bring together the various stakeholders to negotiate and deliberate on various issues affecting the industry. Such multi-stakeholder representation is mirrored in the governance structure of RSPO such that seats in the Executive Board and project level Working Groups are fairly allocated to each sector.

Some of the key achievements of the organization so far include:

• Establishment of the RSPO Principles & Criteria (P&C) for certification of mills and plantations;
• Formation of Working Groups on Green House Gases to address climate change issues;
• Smallholder Task Force to protect the rights of small farmers planting oil palm; and
• Biodiversity Technical Committee to work out biodiversity issues pertaining to sustainable production and biodiversity protection and conservation

Profit & Environmental Protection

Indonesia is the world's biggest palm oil producer but critics say it is harmful and unsustainable. Can the palm oil industry strike a balance between profits and environmental protection? 

 

Sumatra's Sustainable Palm Oil

The small holder palm oil project run by the farmers of Dosan village in Riau (Sumatra, Indonesia) is demonstrating that sustainable palm oil production and protection of Indonesia's remaining rainforest can go hand in hand.

Sustainable Palm oil production

Most palm oil is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia on land that was once thriving rainforest. As global demand grows, more and more forests are being cleared. In areas such as Borneo and Sumatra, rich in biodiversity, deforestation can be catastrophic. Endangered species including orang-utans, tigers, elephants and rhinos are losing critical habitats, pushing them toward extinction.

In 2004, WWF helped set up the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a group that includes every link in the global supply chain, from growers and processors, to food companies and retailers and investors.

With the RSPO, WWF developed a set of international standards for responsible palm oil production. Producers that show they meet these criteria are able to sell certified sustainable palm oil. That means companies that use it in their lipstick, soap, margarine or whatever else can make the same guarantee to their customers.

Certified sustainable palm oil cannot be grown in place of primary forest or in important conservation areas. Growers have to use the best growing practices to keep soil and water supplies healthy, and to reduce pollution and carbon emissions. They also need to pay a decent wage and respect the rights of workers and communities.

The first certified sustainable palm oil came on to the market in September 2008. Today, about 6.4% of all palm oil is certified sustainable.
By looking out for CSPO, the label for sustainable palm oill, you'll be able to buy these products safe in the knowledge that you're not contributing to the destruction of the rainforests.