Malaysia investigates renewable energy from palm oil waste

• 14 years ago (2010-03-22)
• David Flin

Renewables 751

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Sabah’s palm oil industry produces enough waste to generate up to 700MW of electricity, according to an American energy researcher. Dr Daniel Kammen said that the figure was based on the 2008 palm oil production statistics and “conservative” growth estimates. He said biomass power generation plants were economically feasible and logistically achievable via a four project per year ramp-up programme.

The biomass power generation plants solved two environmental problems at once. He said: “One problem is disposing of potentially hazardous mill wastes in open ponds and landfills, and the other problem is meeting Sabah’s energy demands.” Noting that several mills in Sabah were already harnessing palm oil wastes to generate electricity, he said that the 10MW limit on investment under the small renewable energy programme should be scrapped. “There should be continued research and outreach efforts targeted at increasing the quantity of grid-connected electricity available from palm oil mills, besides recognising renewable energy status as a premium product. It is also important to continue studying the feasibility of renewable investments at known geothermal, wind and environmentally sound micro-hydro sites.”

However, Abdul Nasir Abdul Wahid, spokesman for Sabah Electricity (SESB), said that biomass could not generate 300MW of electricity needed in the state. SSEB and its parent company Tenaga Nasional Bhd have been pushing for a controversial 300MW coal-fired plant in the east coast Lahad Datu. This is opposed by various NGOs.