The potential of the Malaysian oil palm biomass as a renewable energy source

[Display omitted] •An energy resource data for oil palm biomass is generated.•The data encompasses crucial fuel and physicochemical characteristics.•These characteristics guide on biomass behaviors and technology selection.•Oil palm biomass is advantageous in today’s energy competitive markets.•Over...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy conversion and management 2017-06, Vol.141, p.285-298
Main Author: Loh, Soh Kheang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Biofuels
Biomass
Biomass burning
Biomass energy production
Combustible characteristics
Conversion
Elaeis quineensis Jacq
Energy conversion efficiency
Energy efficiency
Energy potential
Energy sources
Exploitation
Fossil fuels
Fuel properties
Lignocellulose
Lignocellulosic biomass
Physicochemical properties
Renewable energy
Renewable energy sources
Scarcity
Studies
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Summary:[Display omitted] •An energy resource data for oil palm biomass is generated.•The data encompasses crucial fuel and physicochemical characteristics.•These characteristics guide on biomass behaviors and technology selection.•Oil palm biomass is advantageous in today’s energy competitive markets.•Overall, it is a green alternative for biorefinery establishment. The scarcity of conventional energy such as fossil fuels (which will lead to eventual depletion) and the ever-increasing demand for new energy sources have resulted in the world moving into an era of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency. The Malaysian oil palm industry has been one of the largest contributor of lignocellulosic biomass, with more than 90% of the country’s total biomass deriving from 5.4million ha of oil palms. Recent concerns on accelerating replanting activity, improving oil extraction rate, expanding mill capacity, etc. are expected to further increase the total oil palm biomass availability in Malaysia. This situation has presented a huge opportunity for the utilization of oil palm biomass in various applications including RE. This paper characterizes the various forms of oil palm biomass for their important fuel and other physicochemical properties, and assesses this resource data in totality – concerning energy potential, the related biomass conversion technologies and possible combustion-related problems. Overall, oil palm biomass possesses huge potential as one of the largest alternative energy sources for commercial exploitation.
ISSN:0196-8904
1879-2227
DOI:10.1016/j.enconman.2016.08.081