Harnessing Nature in Asia: Biomass Energy From Dead Palms 

The transition to renewable energy is well underway worldwide. Yet, with rising power demands amid a growing population, it has been difficult for some nations to offset fossil fuels with clean alternatives. Leaning into its lush palm plantations and a growing pile of organic waste, the Asian region is producing biomass energy from dead palm fronds and trunks.

Turning Dead Palms into Biomass Energy

Global palm oil production has grown extensively over the previous two decades, with palm plantations expanding 10-21 million hectares or roughly 25-52 million acres. It is a particularly critical economic driver throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand — the three countries contributing 90% of palm oil production worldwide.

With widespread palm plantations comes ample organic waste, as palms lose fronds or die off for various reasons. Studies show one date palm accumulates 20 kilograms of waste annually — about 44 pounds — and felled trees are usually burned or left to decompose naturally.

Producing biomass fuel from dead palms is a relatively new approach. Palms have a high water and sugar content and ample sap, which makes them viable for mulching and cleaner jet fuels. Other uses include construction materials, furniture, livestock feed, fertilizer and compost.

Aviation fuel is among the most crucial purposes of recycling dead palms. In June 2024, global travelers increased year over year, with Asia-Pacific in the lead with 22.6% international growth. The significant uptick in air passenger demand coincided with a rise in aviation fuel costs.

Advantages of Biomass Energy in Asia

The advantages of biomass energy are plentiful, from economic growth to environmental and social benefits. For one thing, biomass fuels enable electricity independence — Thailand and the Philippines alone accounted for 40% of oil imports in 2020. Amid a turbulent power market, costs have increased dramatically since Russia invaded Ukraine.

Biomass production allows Asia to strengthen its energy security and enhance job creation. Research suggests Indonesia can create employment opportunities by developing biogas facilities and power plants in urban and rural areas. Additional job creation may be derived from these facilities’ harvesting, transportation and maintenance operations. Of course, rural farmers can also generate income by selling unused dead palms.

Environmentally, biomass fuel helps mitigate climate change impacts. Its renewability offsets greenhouse gas emissions, lowering Asia’s carbon footprint and assisting countries in meeting their emissions targets. Of course, using dead palms addresses waste challenges, alleviating pressure on overflowing landfills and making better use of organic matter in a circular economy.

Adopting biomass fuel ensures accessibility to clean, affordable electricity, particularly for rural communities with limited grid access. It also encourages community initiatives and power decentralization so Asia can achieve greater sustainability and inclusivity.

How Does Biomass Energy Work?

There are several ways to convert dead palms into biomass energy. Regardless of the method, dead palms must be processed to remove moisture and impurities. Conversion methods include the following:

1. Combustion: Burning to produce heat for warming purposes and electricity

2. Gasification: Heating materials to 1,400 degrees F and 1,700 degrees F and injecting them with free oxygen to create syngas — used for diesel fuel, heating or electricity for gas turbines

3. Biochemical conversion: Biodegrading materials through anaerobic digestion for biogas

Palms are large and difficult to work with, so a sawmill uses specialized machinery to reduce it to chips and shredded pieces. The dead palms are inspected for contaminants throughout milling and may go through a metal detector to detect nails, wires and other metal materials that can damage the equipment.

After removing pollutants and shredding or chipping the palms, they undergo a drying period before being stored until necessary for energy production.

Is Biomass Renewable: A Key Driver for Sustainability

Is biomass renewable? It’s a question many people wonder as the world looks toward cleaner energy. Biomass is all organic materials from plants, animal waste and microorganisms, including agricultural debris, wood, crops and other natural waste.

Biomass energy is defined as energy generated when biomass becomes electricity, heat or liquid. Although it is not yet as prevalent as other renewables, it boasts a consistent stream of power, organic waste reduction and easy integration into existing approaches.

The Potential of Dead Palms for Energy Solutions

Despite Asia-Pacific’s progress in energy developments — even achieving a 95% electrification rate in 2020 — there is still room for improvement. Nearly 940 million people experience power outages. Likewise, 350 million and 133 million have inadequate or no electricity access. The impacts touch low-income and vulnerable populations most, particularly amid natural disasters, pandemics and rising temperatures.

Asia-Pacific countries have the potential to meet power demands by utilizing felled palms. Their abundance throughout palm oil plantations and renewability delivers a sustainable alternative to harmful fossil fuels. In the long run, energy independence from non-renewables will help save on costs and expand the electricity portfolio.

Challenges and Recommendations for Biomass Fuel Production

Biomass energy production with dead palms is still in its infancy. Even if it becomes a viable option in the long run, challenges still exist for its widespread use. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), barriers to biomass include:

1. Initial investment with higher financial risks
2. Wavering political support
3. Fluctuating market demands
4. Negative impacts on other industries
5. Infrastructure limitations
6. Impacts on land-use competition for other renewables
7. Regulating frameworks blocking biomass production

Implementation recommendations should include research and development of biomass technologies for greater efficiency. Seeking government support through incentives and new regulations is also essential for adopting new power solutions

Likewise, partnering with government agencies, industries, and communities can increase interest in and investment in biomass fuels. Most critically, Asia must build the proper infrastructure and train its workforce in biomass fuel production.

Public education about the benefits of biomass fuels — including their sustainability and cost benefits — is equally important. According to one study, Africa and Asia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 78% with biodiesel and 81% with ethanol.

Dead Palm Biomass Energy: An Opportunity for Sustainable Energy Development

Asia’s exploration of palm-generated biomass fuel sets the stage for a more sustainable, energy-independent and prosperous future. Through innovative technologies, processes and policies, the region demonstrates the potential for this valuable resource in developing tomorrow’s electricity solutions.