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Energy Procedia 47 (2014) 166 172

Conference and Exhibition Indonesia Renewable Energy & Energy Conservation

[Indonesia EBTKE CONEX 2013]

Analysis of Palm Biomass as Electricity from Palm Oil Mills

in North Sumatera
Muhammad Ansori Nasutiona,*, Tjahjono Herawana, Meta Rivania
a

Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI), Jalan Brigjen Katamso 51, Medan 20158, Indonesia

Abstract
Empty fruit bunch, shell, and fiber are palm biomass waste that can be converted to energy by cogeneration system. On the other
hand, electricity shortages severely hampered the development of North Sumatera. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to
present a potential analysis of palm biomass waste in generating electricity by palm oil mills in North Sumatera. Some palm oil
mills in North Sumatera were analyzed in electric potential by using collected data, questionnaires and interviews. The results
show that a POM with 30 tones FFB/hour generates at least 20 MW (20 MW to 35 MW).
2014
2014The
TheAuthors.
Authors.
Published
Elsevier

Published
by by
Elsevier
Ltd.Ltd.
Selectionand
andpeer-review
peer-review
under
responsibility
ofScientific
the Scientific
Committee
of Indonesia
Conex 2013.
Selection
under
responsibility
of the
Committee
of Indonesia
EBTKEEBTKE
Conex 2013
Keywords: renewable energy; palm biomass; electricity; palm oil mill; North Sumatera

Nomenclature
CPO
EFB
FFB
GHG
GPS
kJ
kW
MW
MJ
POM

Crude Palm Oil

Empty Fruit Bunch
Fresh Fruit Bunch
Green House gases
Global Positioning System
kilo Joule
kilo Watt
Mega Watt
Mega Joule
Palm oil Mill

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +62-61-7862477; fax : +62-61-7862488

E-mail address: ansoricca@gmail.com

1876-6102 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of Indonesia EBTKE Conex 2013
doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2014.01.210

Muhammad Ansori Nasution et al. / Energy Procedia 47 (2014) 166 172

1. Introduction
Palm oil is currently the worlds largest source of edible oil. POM in Indonesia produces about 23 MT crude
CPO or 46% of the total world palm oil producing in 2011 [1]. It is predicted that the demand of world palm oil will
remain increase as followed by population growth, food and chemical industrialized.
More CPO produced is more palm biomass wastes. A POM wastes around 12 to 15% fiber, 5 to 7% shell, and 20
to 23% EFB based on its capacity. However, this biomass waste is needed to be utilized effectively to overcome its
disposal problem since environmental concern today.
Palm biomass have been long identified and utilized as renewable energy but there is rare energy power plant
applied. The Government of Indonesia has taken steps with this concept with the National Energy Policy in 2006
that is aimed to increase biomass based energy to 5% by 2025. Nowadays, converting POM waste into energy is
supposed by Protocol Kyoto with the objective of reducing GHG emissions [2].
Actually, POM is applying a cogeneration system in producing steam and electricity demand in the milling
process by using one source of fuel [3, 4]. Cogeneration system consists of boiler, turbine, and generator [3]. Fiber
and shell (70:30) are burnt directly in boiler to form saturated or superheated steam. A half of the steam is used for
milling process such as sterilization, kernel storage, etc. Residual steam is converted to electricity by using a turbine.
EFB is not commonly fed as fuel because it contains high moisture content. EFB is usually applied for mulching in
oil palm plantation or compost even though EFB transportation is related to the environmental aspects. However,
fiber, shell and EFB have a high caloric value that can be utilized as an energy source for useful purpose.
Heat and power generated by cogeneration is more than sufficient for milling process of POM. On the other
hand, POM miller needs to reduce palm biomass waste. Due to that many POM burnt more biomass waste to obtain
more energy that not only use for milling process but also distribute it excess electricity to employee resident and
local people. This delivery electricity concept can be applied to support electricity demand in North Sumatera by
using national grid line as the distributing system.
This paper describes a study analysis of electrical potential generated by palm biomass in North Sumatera. The
analysis is useful for cluster power plant planning in North Sumatera. Others benefit of the study is to reduce GHG
emissions risk, increase employment of local people and increase add value of palm oil plantation.

2. Material and method

Some materials used are map, GPS, assessment questionnaire, and thermochemical data. Cogeneration data were
collected from 21 representatives POM in North Sumatera. Data was obtained from assessment questionnaire,
interview, laboratory sampling, GPS mapping. The data were used as a baseline data to calculate energy potential.
Analyzing and calculating data used Excel and it is represented by a graph and chart.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x

The scopes of study were:

The distance from POM to the nearest grid line.
Process capacity POM (ton FFB/hour)
Quantity of POM biomass waste (ton/hour)
Actual biomass used for boiler feed (ton/hour)
Actual energy generated (MW)
Energy consumption of a POM (kW)
Potential electricity or energy generated (kW)
Potential energy excess of a POM (kW)

The following assumptions or data were used in the calculation:

x The process energy balance is started from boiler, turbine, accumulator, generator and grid line.
x Caloric value for EFB, shell and fiber in dry basis are 18,838 kJ; 20,108 kJ; and 19,068 kJ [5,6].
x Steam enthalpy at 20 Bar, 260 oC = 2982 kJ/kg steam.

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x Boiler and generator efficiency are 70% and 70%.

x POM energy consumption is 27 kWh/ton FFB and 0.55 to 0.60 ton steam/ton FFB [2,7].
3. Results and discussion
3.1. POM capacity and distance to the national grid line
Actually, there are about 83 POM detected by GPS in five districts of North Sumatera, that most are in Asahan
and Labuhan Batu district. Then, those POM were selected by representative operating performance and distance
between POM and the others in each district.
Almost a half of the POM assessed in North Sumatera has 30 tons FFB/hour capacity. Others have higher
capacity, 45, 50 and 60 tons FFB/hour. Only around 14% POM has less than 30 tons FFB/hour (Fig. 1). Generally,
POM standard capacity is 30 and 45 tons FFB/hour. To up scaling the capacity, POM usually adjoins new operating
units without fully change operating system.
<30 ton FFB/h
14%

60 ton FFB/h
14%
50 ton FFB/h
14%

45 ton FFB/h
10%

30 ton FFB/h
48%

Fig. 1. Percentages of POM capacity in North Sumatera.

Distance is an important point in the electricity distributing system. The palm biomass power plant has not more
than 10 km from POM to grid line [8]. A long distance will increase cost investment in the grid line and inefficient
electricity distribution. The distance from POM to the national grid line is available in Fig 2. Most of POM is
located not more than 1 km from the low voltage (71% POM) and medium voltage (48% POM) grid line.

Number of POMs (%)

80%

71%

low voltage

medium voltage

70%
48%

60%
50%

29%

40%

24%

19%

30%

10%

20%
10%
0%
< 1 km

1-5 km

>5 km

Distance

Fig. 2. Percentage of POM based on the distances to the grid.

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A clustering of palm biomass power plant also needs close distance between POM and others. The distance is
not more than 20 km. In North Sumatera, there are around 70% of POM assessed have 10 to 20 km distance from
POM to others (Fig.3). A close distance from POM to grid line or to others POM shows that a clustering in
producing electricity from palm biomass is possible in North Sumatera.
70%

Number of POM

60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%

< 1 km

1-10 km

10-20 km

Fig. 3. Percentage of POM based on the distances to the others POM.

3.2. Palm biomass waste availability

Theoretically, increasing of FFB processed, bigger palm biomass waste and lesser energy required. There will
require an extra handling of waste that influences the cost. Three bar charts below describe composition of EFB,
fiber and shell in the 21 POM assessed. Most POM have 20% EFB, 13% fiber and 7% shell by POM capacity (Fig.
4a, Fig. 4b and Fig. 4c). EFB is the biggest waste (20%) than fiber (14%) and shell (7%). Therefore, utilization EFB
as the energy source gives an effect of the amount of energy produced and waste reduced.
EFB 22%
14%

Fiber 14%
33%

EFB 23%
5%

EFB 20%
48%

Fiber 13%
67%

Fig. 4a. Composition of fiber at 21 POM assessed.

EFB 21%
33%

Fig. 4b. Composition of EFB at 21 POM assessed.

Shell 7%
52%

Shell 6%
43%

Shell 5%
5%

Fig. 4c. Composition of shell at 21 POM assessed.

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3.3. Actual energy

Assessed POM utilizes fiber and shell as boiler feeding. POM burnt all fiber produced by milling process while
there are a number of shells are not burnt to boiler. Some POM sells residual shell due to its good market price.
However, excess electricity is still obtained without burning all shells produced.
Actual electricity produced by POM based on collecting data is shown in Figure 5. All of POM assessed has
similar condition such as residual shell is sold and no EFB utilization as boiler feeding. POM assessed generates
around 3 to 20 MW electricity from palm biomass waste. A POM with 30 tons FFB/hour generates 8 to 12 MW and
a bigger POM capacity must produce higher electricity. Actual energy excess without EFB utilization is available in
Figure 6. There is around 9.7 kW/ton FFB excess energy that can be distributed to local people by grid line.

60 ton FFB/h
17-20 MW
14%

< 30 ton FFB/h

3-7 MW
14%

40-50 ton FFB/h

13-16 MW
24%

30 ton FFB/h
8-12 MW
48%

Fig. 5. Actual energy generated by POM assessed (based on biomass data and without EFB utilization).

Fig. 6. Energy excess of POM (without utilizing EFB).

However, there are some problems that can cause difference in energy produced. They are improper blending of
fiber and shell, moisture content of materials, incomplete combustion and air flowing [7]. Another problem is steam
quality. The presence of water in steam (wet steam) decreases generation efficiency. Some POM utilizes
superheated steam to obtain high dryness steam. Steam produced by boiler is delivered to turbine. The steam turbine
normally used in POM is one or two stage impulse with backpressure type.

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3.4. Potential energy

Many researchers had reported that mulching and composting only can be applied for particular POM [2, 9].
Mulching and composting consume fuel for transport EFB and distribute it to the plantation. It is not only
considerable with the cost but also CO2 emissions.
The energy produced is higher than actual energy at POM if all of palm biomass waste is utilized as boiler
feeding. Figure 7 shows that a POM with 30 tons FFB/hour generates electricity 20 to 25 MW. It is higher two
times than without EFB utilization. It also gives a higher surplus of electricity, which is around 530 kW/ton FFB or
54 times higher than if without EFB utilization (Fig. 8).
30 ton FFB/h
20-25 MW
48%

< 30 ton FFB/h

8-15 MW
14%

40-50 ton FFB/h

30-36 MW
24%

60 ton FFB/h
41-43 MW
14%

Fig. 7. Energy potential generated by POM assessed (based on biomass data and with EFB utilization).

Fig. 8. Energy excess of potential energy of POM (with EFB utilization).

Nowadays, North Sumatera suffers electricity shortages that disturb its development and industrialized. A palm
biomass power plant is a promising solution to overcome that the electricity shortage in due to North Sumatera has
many palm oil industries. Some small POM capacity in one area of regency can supply their biomass waste to the
power plant. The power plant employs cogeneration with proper and better unit specification to generate high
electricity. This concept is called clustering energy. However, it requires a large investment but many advantages
obtained, such as revenue, lower milling cost, environmental risk and support national electricity.

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4. Conclusion
The study found that the current generation system generated lower electricity than its potential. Utilization of
EFB as energy source produce around 530 kW/ton FFB energy excess or increase two times than no EFB utilization.
Its high potential should be commercially exploited by national grid line distributing. Some POM in North Sumatera
have energy potential and also meet the distance grid line requirement. However, utilization of palm biomass wastes
support electricity demand in North Sumatera and contribute to the national energy based on renewable sources.
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Indonesia for
research funds.
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