The Largest Producer of Biomass, That Is Equatorial Region

Indonesia is a country through which the equator is passed so become tropical climate with the sun shining all year long with an average of 12 hours each day. The number of volcanoes that are widely spread in various islands make the soil is also fertile. Moreover, with high rainfall of 2700 mm / year or three times higher than the world average of only 900 mm / year makes Indonesia is also ideal for agriculture and plantations of various types of plants. Indonesia's rainfall is higher than India (1,080 mm), America (715 mm), China (645 mm), Brazil (1,750 mm), Argentina (591 mm) and even Thailand (1,625 mm). Only two of our neighbors are able to surpass the Indonesian rainfall of Malaysia (2,875 mm) and Papua New Guinea (3,140). In fact, we should be even more grateful when compared to countries such as Jordan (111 mm), Qatar (74 mm), Saudi Arabia (59 mm) and Egypt who only get 51 mm rainfall per year. Biomass production for energy is also optimal with these climatic conditions. A carbon neutral scenario using biomass as a fuel to reduce and even replace coal has been widely implemented and even has become a state policy, such as Japan, Korea, China and some countries in Europe. In the near future many countries are expected to implement similar programs or policies. Integration of energy plantation and livestock for optimization of land use can be done under the scenario of 5F Project For The World!.

Empirically with the climatic conditions of Indonesia, that lies at the equator makes woody biomass production quicker significantly. The process of photosynthesis with sunshine throughout the year is a factor in accelerating the growth and production of biomass of these woody biomass. Energy plantations should be made in many parts of Indonesia, that because the large amount of land available. Based on the factors above short rotation crops such as calliandra and gliricidae within 1 year, it can be harvested in Indonesia with the same amount of poplar and willow grown in the sub-tropical country for 4 years. A real difference, of course. Based on the analysis of energy plantations also provide greater profit compared to oil palm plantations, more further can be read here.

Indonesia is also very potential as the world's largest producer of wood pellets. Wood pellet production with energy plantations or trees is also very much in line with the concept of Islam. The fulfillment or self-sufficiency of food, energy and water needs is the long-term goal of the 5F Project For The World. Once again the potential of Indonesia is remarkable as the world's largest biomass producer, so the "green" earth will be the target of today and future renewable energy entrepreneurs.

CPO For Power Plant Fuel

Not only in power plants with solid fuels such as steam power plants that use coal as the fuel gradually use renewable energy in the form of biomass such as wood pellet to reduce the CO2 in atmospheric, but also has penetrated into liquid-fueled power plant . Some of these power plants use biodiesel, and even with its fuel-flexibility technology, plant oils can be used directly like CPO (crude palm oil). Provider of such machinery or power plant equipment such as Wärtsilä and MAN. Although overall the portion or percentage of fuel or renewable energy has not been large but has gradually entered the various lines due primarily to the driving force of environmental problems, climate change and sustainability. The issue of sustainability has received great attention for now.

Indonesia as the world's largest CPO producer, has a strategic role as a supplier of such fuel as well as making power plants with CPO fuel. A number of countries have used CPO as fuel for the plant because it is supported by the government's policy in the form of various incentives. In addition to CPO  basically almost all vegetable oils can be used as fuel for power plant with the fuel flexibility technology.

Korea's Choice Gricidae Energy Plantation?

There are many similarities between calliandra and gliricidae namely, the leguminoceae group, the wood has a high calorific value, easy to grow, suitable for cultivated energy plantation with fast growing capability after harvesting the wood, and can be integrated with the livestock business by utilizing the green leaves. But gliricidae sepium is easier and more common in many places. This is because gamal has several advantages over calliandra ie as shade trees, fences plants and simple building poles. Gliricidae can also grow in various places and types of soil, evident from the sea to the high mountains. As for the energy sector, calliandra wood has an advantage with faster dry so it can be exploited or easier to process further.

As a group of leguminoceae both gliricidae and calliandra are able to fertilize the soil because its roots are able to bind nitrogen from the atmosphere, increase soil organic matter, improve physical characteristics of soil, aeration and drainage, reduce soil erosion, lower soil temperature and reduce ground water evaporation. Critical land, marginal and unused land will be repaired with the leguminoceae. Human essential matter issues such as water, energy and food can also be fulfilled by the plantation. As with calliandra, for optimization of gliricidae can also be integrated in 5F projects for the world!.

Since implementing the RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) in 2012 Korea committed to increase the use of renewable energy, especially biomass and more specifically wood pellets in its energy sector. Based on the RPS, Korea requires a coal-fired power plant to use a minimum 2% of renewable energy by 2012, with  0.5% per year increase until 2020. By 2020 they will need a minimum of 10% renewable energy with 60% renewable energy composition coming from wood biomass , while the remaining 40% from other sources. Palm kernel shells also become short and medium term solutions, and wood pellets for the long term. Since a few years ago some gliricidae energy plantations have been created by cooperating with Korea. Although until now the commercial production of gliricidae wood pellets not yet realized, but it seems in the near future will be realized. Some of the driving forces include the limited availability of palm kernel shells, wood pellets from raw materials of wood wastes are also limited, and biomass pellets from various agricultural wastes are of low quality and often require various treatments before they are pelleted. It seems that gliricidae will soon be massively cultivated to meet renewable energy in Korea. 

Popularizing Wood Briquette For Renewable Fuel and Environmentally Friendly Part 2

One of the obstacles of lack using for wood briquette that because still no wood briquette stove available in market. Wood briquette stove that special designed for burning the wood briquette so it can be used for cooking is the main factor for wood briquette will be accepted of households and small-medium industries. Food and pharmaceutical industries especially need 'clean' fuel from biomass like wood briquette. Smell and taste of food will no change or contaminant of pharmaceutical industries can be minimized.

Supply of the wood briquette also easier to be done because the production process and technology already mastered. All equipments can be fabricated in the local fabricator in Indonesia even extruder or screw press that the main equipment in briquetting. That is different with wood pellet in which pelleting equipment (pelletiser) still have to be imported from foreign countries. The investment for production equipment (machineries) of wood briquette also cheaper compare with wood pellet, even almost a half.

For feeding the wood briquette into the stove can be done manually, that because the size of wood briquette much bigger than wood pellet. At wood briquette stove usually installed door in upper part for feeding or inserting the wood briquette. While in the wood pellets feeding can be done with screw conveyor because the size of wood pellet is small enough and pourable. In addition wood briquette also available in many shapes for example cylinder, hexagon, cube etc. The shapes of the wood briquette come from many briquetting technologies, that can be read here. All of the briquette can use the wood briquette stove as long as the size and length fit with it. Generally briquetting also easier compare with pelleting. Raw material that success in briquetting not always success in pelleting but not respectively.

Photos of the wood briquette stove, taken from here

The high stove efficiency can be achieved if heat loss from burning can be minimized. Wood briquette has low moisture content so smoke generated from the combustion also minimum. With wood briquette price cheaper per-heat calory compare with LPG, so using wood briquette also more economical. Operational of the stove that easier and practical will drive the usage of the wood briquette. The stove also can be equipped with TEG (Thermo-Electric Generator) for getting small electricity.

Plam Oil EFB Briquette

Beside the wood wastes for wood briquette production, agricultural wastes also can be made into biomass briquette for example rice husk, coffee husk, coconut husk, baggase, palm oil empty fruit bunch, etc. Some of the wastes mentioned before abundant in some Indonesia regions. Empty fruit bunch (EFB) of palm oil for example abundant in palm oil mills and more than 600 palm oil mills available in Indonesia. The EFB can be briquetted then can be used as biomass fuel.

Industrial Plantation Forest and Wood Pellet

The potential extent of land and tropical climate conditions should always be grateful for us. Grateful for the blessings of Allah SWT this one by not destroying it and utilize to meet the needs of human life and maintain its sustainability. The extent of industrial plantation forest that has not been managed optimally makes the benefits and sustainability is also less than optimal. Though there are many benefits if the maximum management and not only economic benefits but also the environmental benefits are priceless. Allowing unoccupied land to leave anything is just degraded, barren and desertifying. Whereas the human need for food, energy and water always increases with the increasing number of people. Food, energy and water is the essential human material needs so that he/she can survive and give birth to the next generation. One scenario to get the food, energy and water is 5F project for the world!. The production or development of the energy from trees is also in accordance with the instructions of the Qur'an.

Moratorium of Palm Oil
The bustling palm oil moratorium today, although officially not yet enacted is the right moment to consider energy plantation. Judging from the capital or investment of oil palm business also requires a large capital, besides the problem of plantation maintenance and land quality also become important factors and high cost also. Energy plantation with leguminoceae crops such as calliandra and gliricidae sepium, require only simple and inexpensive maintenance. Moreover, it only takes about 1 year to be harvested wood and can be harvested continuously every year without replanting. Leguminoceae is a pioneer species that is able to fertilize the soil with a symbiotic nitrogen-binding bacterium at its roots. In contrast to palm trees that require high maintenance and fertilizer costs, leguminoceae is the opposite. Palm trees also require a lot of water, this is also the opposite of leguminoceae. Energy plantation such as calliandra also provide important benefits of maintaining the fulfillment of food, energy and water. Comparison between the two can also be read here.

Sovereignty and Energy Producer
It must be acknowledged that Indonesia is no longer a petroleum exporter and therefore no longer a member of OPEC but as an importer country increasingly growing to meet domestic demand. While energy demand is increasing day by day due to population growth. The higher the dependence on imported fuel is the less Indonesia's sovereign in the energy sector. Even energy is an important and vital sector for the sovereignty of one country so the policy instruments that govern it are also not simple. On the other hand when in fact open big opportunities for sovereign to the energy sector one of them with energy plantation, that is by utilizing millions hectares of land that is currently not yet or not utilized. In addition to sovereign from the energy sector, a further vision of becoming an energy producer that supplies energy needs, especially renewable energy to various parts of the world. With the vast potential of the land is not impossible Indonesia became the largest producer of renewable energy from the biomass especially wood pellets. Although the government projection only targeted 17% renewable energy in 2025 through the national energy policy through Presidential Regulation no. 5 of 2006.

There are a number of real advantages to be gained from energy plantation in the form of economic benefits as well as environmental benefits, as can be read here. Production and use of wood pellets as well. A simple schematic or diagram of wood pellet production from calliandra energy plantation can be read here.

Cleanliness of Biomass Fuel and Effects on Combustion

Hygiene is the base of health, that is the proverb or phrase that we often hear. It turns out that hygiene is not only related to health problems, biomass fuel also apparently considered the importance of 'cleanliness' is. Cleanliness in the sense of freedom from a number of impurities or contaminants. Just as in the field of health, impurities will also cause problems in the processing and utilization. The cleaner the biomass fuel the easier it is in the processing and utilization becomes more optimal as well. Biomass fuels typically used by industry include: wood chip, wood pellet, palm shell or PKS (Palm Kernel Shell), and wood briquette. Wood pellets and wood briquette mostly use wood powder like sawdust as its raw material, and if the raw material size is too large then it needs to be reduced to the size of the wood powder. The densification process of wood powder into wood pellet and wood briquette will be easier and the lifespan of the compaction equipments becomes longer when using clean wood powder. For example, a nail or screws in wood powder to the pelletiser will cause severe damage to the roller by grinding the roller grooves within the pelletiser, so that the magnetic separator needs to be installed before the wood powder is fed to the pelletiser. Wood chips and clean palm shells (PKS) are also standard for a number of biomass power plants.

Vibrating Screen For PKS Cleaning; Photo taken from here

Foreign objects in the form of metal from PKS cleaning; Photo taken from here

Manual screen for PKS clearing

The biomass fuel cleaning process becomes an integral part of the fuel production process. A screen is a equipment commonly used for cleaning, and some add a magnet to separate the impurities or foreign objects from metal. Manual screen to mechanical one used for cleaning even to get the maximum level of cleanliness, then the sieve (screen) is made multi-deck. For large capacity mechanical sieves are commonly used, both vibrating and rotary screen. In the process of producing wood pellets and wood briquettes, a commonly used sieve is a rotary screen that functions in addition to separate the impurities as well also to obtain the appropriate particle size. While vibrating screen is commonly used for cleaning palm shells (PKS). Feeding to the screen usually uses a conyeyor. For raw material with large particle size such as palm shell (PKS) and wood chip belt conveyor is commonly used, while for raw material of wood powder such as sawdust, screw conveyor is recommended, for minimizing the dust problem.

Rotary Screen at Sawdust Briquette Factory

Sawdust Briquette to be carbonized

What foreign impurities or objects should be removed from the biomass fuel? Stones, gravel, sand, soil, glass, plastics, fabrics, paper and any number of metals are some impurities that should generally be removed as much as possible. Basically the processing and utilization of biomass fuel will have different levels of tolerance. Biomass power plants operating at high temperatures will require a higher level of cleanliness or a small degree of tolerance for the impurities. Likewise for the production of wood pellets and wood briquette in large capacity, then the quality of raw materials becomes important. This is because at high mechanical pressures during pelleting or briquetting the impurities have the potential to cause severe abrasion so that the equipment will quickly wear out. More specifically for palm kernel shells (PKS), which popular recently as biomass power plant fuel, the presence of fibers and empty fruit bunches is also considered an impurity. This is because the existence of these objects will reduce the heating value and some chemical elements in the ashes are not friendly or cause problems in boiler pipes especially those operating at high temperatures.

Deposit and ash crust on boiler pipes

Formation of deposit in boiler pipe

Factors that affect biomass burning mainly are the calorific value, moisture content, ash content and ash chemistry. The higher the ash content, the calorific value will be smaller. High silica (Si), potassium (K) and chlorine (Cl) contents will cause many problems in high temperature combustion. So the biomass fuel must be chosen according to its use or the type of utilization technology. For example, fibers and empty fruit bunches containing high chlorine (Cl) elements, will corrode boiler pipes so that leakages occur even though they have been operating for less than 10,000 hours. The high content of potassium (K) and silica (Si) will make a deposit or crust on the boiler pipes so it will also disrupt the heat exchange. In addition to impurities or foreign objects containing chemical substances that would be a problem in boilers, impurities or foreign objects that are physically large such as stones, concrete flakes, cement clumps, pieces of iron and so on in addition to disturb combustion also have the potential to interfere handling of the biomass fuel.

Take a Look PKS Closer

Most of the PKS (palm kernel shell) are currently only bedded on an open yard (stockpile) for storage. These conditions make it very affected by weather conditions. When the hot weather on the outside of the PKS pile is dry, but the inside is still wet. PKS bed can usually reach a height of more than 5 meters. The higher the bed will be more difficult to reach the conditions inside. When the rain conditions on the outside of the pile become wet, but the inside drier. What happens to the PKS bed in both rain and hot weather?

As an organic material, biomass can also decompose either by physics, biology or chemistry. All biomass is no exception include PKS will decompose over time emmit some toxic gas and reduce oxygen concentration, such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). As a product or commodity to be sold then the decline in quality and quantity due to the decomposition process as much as possible to be avoided. Good handling from PKS collection, cleaning and storage will minimize the decomposition.

Biological decomposition that mainly occurs in the pile of the PKS. A number of organic materials as PKS impurities such as fibers, oils and so on will be easy to decompose biologically. Microbial activity in the PKS bed encourages the fermentation of organic matter. The softer and higher water content of the organic material will be decomposed biologically quickly, namely the fermentation. PKS itself is a hard material with high lignin content so it is not easily fermented in a short time. So how about a pile of PKS that is left for months and even years? What microbial activity happens? And how much the decline in quality and quantity?

In compost production, the production of CH4 or methane is usually related to biomass anaerobic decomposition, whereas CO2 is more in aerobic decomposition. The higher the temperature the CO / CO2 ratio is also greater. As the temperature increases, both CO2 and CH4 are also increasing, and CH4 becomes larger than CO2 at higher temperatures.

Comparison with wood pellets
In comparison, namely with the storage of wood pellets. The similarity of PKS with wood pellets is the same biomass fuel that has nearly equal calorific value and can be pourable so it is possible for automatic feeding with very accurate calibration. Wood pellets are made or produced by densification of wood powder in general the size of sawdust with a moisture content of 10%, being 10-30 mm in length and 6-12 mm in diameter. Wood pellets should be stored in a dry space and protected from water / rain. Storage of wood pellets in large quantities ie at a capacity level of 30,000 tons and above, can cause its own problems.

Storage of large bulk wood pellets above proved to generate harmful and self-heating gas emissions. Resins in the form of sugars and organic compounds in the wood through the wood pellet production process, begin to break during shipping storage. Wood pellet producers must prepare the best product so that acceptable buyers across oceans satisfactorily. Preparation of raw materials in the form of natural wood drying after being felled is being tested to minimize gas and heat emissions during storage. The reason behind the method is that wood tends to have varying water content every year, so that natural wood drying will reduce the breakup of chemical compounds in wood chips and sawdust. The spontaneous heat from wood chip and sawdust piles resulted from the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids (unsaturated fatty acids) and other extractives.

A cargo ship carrying wood pellets in closed room reportedly detected a concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) of about 1% (10,000 ppm) on the 18th day after loading (loaded). The oxygen concentration at that time also became less than 1% and the carbon dioxide emissions from the wood pellet pile were 100-885 mg / ton / day. And it is well known that high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) are very dangerous and should be avoided. An analysis says that the gas is formed from auto-oxidation of fat and fatty acids in the wood, but the factors driving the gas production are not fully known.

A fatal accident occurred at the port of Rotterdam in 2002 and the port of Helsingborg in 2006 contained safety issues of serious concern. Plus fatal accidents happen again in Finland and Germany, safety issues become increasingly prominent. Carbon monoxide poisoning (CO) has killed 5 people and severe brain injury for some people. In 2005 IMO (International Maritime Organization) also incorporated wood pellets as a hazardous material due to the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) gas that causes oxygen deficiency. Instruments such as oxygen-meter or CO-meter detection or instrumentation are required for the crew or personnel dealing with the wood pellets.

Aeration with inserting the adequate air (ambient water) in the pile of wood pellets into a solution for storage of wood pellets. The purpose of wood pellets aeration is to cool the pellets, regulate the temperature on the pile of pellets, prevent biological heating on wet pellets, circulate gas emissions, and eliminate odors generated from gas emissions. The speed of chemical reactions deterioration or decline in quality becomes very slow and sometimes insignificant at low temperatures. The increase in chemical reaction is noticeable every 10 ° C temperature increase, so keeping it at a low temperature is essential in wood pellets storage.

PKSThe PKS pile in open spaces does not pose any significant problems with harmful gas emissions. This is because the harmful gas emissions soon break down in the atmosphere because it is in open space. While the heat will cause safety problems for workers who manage the pile of the PKS. The higher the bed and the more organic impurities the higher the oxidation and fermentation rate. The temperature in the pile becomes higher, reaching 70 - 80 C so it is quite hot exposed skin or feet. The PKS manager often inserts water to cool the temperature in the pile. PKS quality will be biologically damaged if the fermentation process runs for a long time, ie 6 months or more. Entering the water will cool the pile temperature which also means decreasing the speed of the fermentation reaction. Maintaining the condition of the PKS bed remains also important to maintain the quality and quantity of the PKS. The content of nitrogen (N) elements in the PKS can also be used as a benchmark of how big the degree of fermentation in the particular PKS and biomass fuel in general. Ultimate analysis in the laboratory can be to know the chemical elements in the biomass. Nitrogen (N) standards should be listed for biomass fuels which, according to the European Standard (CEN), are grouped from less than 0.3% to groups above 3%.

In addition, PKS managers also often aerate by flipping through the pile with heavy mechanical devices such as backhoe. Aeration will also lower the temperature of the bed due to fermentation other than that by flicking it in the presence of heat of the sun will dry or decrease the water content of the PKS. Basically the two methods above are used to maintain the quality and quantity of PKS and that is not less important is the safety.