5F Project For The World!

At least there 7F which became an essential material needs of the people throughout the world, namely Food, Fuel, Fiber, Fodder, Feedstock, Fertilizer, and Favor. 7F became the theme of a variety of warm conversation around the world today to be pursued to find a variety of scenarios to solve the problems associated 7F. The problem of food for example, according to WHO, nearly 1/3 of the world's population or approximately 2 billion people suffer from hunger, even in the FAO country report headline sharper again, that there are 60 million people "... go bed hungry every night ..." in Southeast Asia and almost a third in Indonesia or nearly 20 million people, this is certainly a serious problem to be solved immediately. The complex issue because it involves multidimensional human life.

In this paper, at least I offer scenarios 5F namely fuel (energy), Food, Fodder (forage), Fiber (clothing) and Fertilizer to optimize the potential of land or land available in Indonesia and hopefully can implemented in the near future. In Indonesia a lot of common soilwere damaged or barren, arid even die and some have even begun to happen desertification of not utilized properly. Soil barren damaged or even die must be repaired first if people want to get the food from it. Then how to improve even revive the dead land? Allah SWT gave instructions in the Qur'an : Yaasiin (36): 33, which revive the dead land with use leguminocea plants, it turned out to be in line and supported by numerous scientific studies and has been tested in the fields. Then in the Qur'an :Yaasiin (36): 80 Allah SWT also mentioned energy source from green trees, it is reinforcing the wood of a kind of green plants such as Calliandra species as an energy source for wood pellets production.

There are so many types of plants this legumiceae, ie more than 19,000 species and should be selected which are most suitable according to the characteristics of the area and the specific objectives to be achieved. When the plants grown in dead soil, leguminocea plants then with the rain water will grow and further bind nitrogen (N) from the air and stored in a nitrogen nodules of these plants that enrich the soil as it becomes fertilizer. Calliandra is just one example of the Leguminoceae plants. When soil was broken even been dying to be repaired and able to produce 5F (Fuel, Food, Fodder, Fiber and Fertilizer) above, the calliandra could be one option. Calliandra crop rotation is fast, ie within one year can be harvested and can grow from the its shoots up for decades so it does not need to be replanted every year.

When planting calliandra then the place for sheep grazing with eat the grass on the sidelines calliandra plants, and wood of Calliandra are used for the production of wood pellets (fuel), and the leaves of calliandra plants are used to feed cattle, cows dung used for biogas production, residual biogas production will be organic fertilizer, and feathers sheep into textile materials that are expensive. Calliandra plantation would also be fertile because the sheep are dropping feces and urines into fertilizer at the plantation. Sheep manures are very good fertilizer, following chemical composition: Nitrogen (N) 2.03%; Phosphorous (P) 1.42%; Potassium (K) 1.61%; Calcium (Ca) 2.45%; Magnesium (Mg) 0.62%; Manganese (Mn) of 0.49%; Iron (Fe) 2.19%; Copper (Cu) and 0.02% Zinc (Zn) 12:22%. Thus the enrichment of the soil in addition to bind nitrogen by the roots of calliandra tress will also be accelerated with sheep drop the dungs on it. And each of at least 6 months fleece the sheep are sheared fleece that will be generated as a textile material. In wood harvesting, the leaves caliandra collected to feed the cows, when the leaves remaining much then can be processed further as fermentation so as to spare the future when the supply of food from the plantation can be disrupted or can be commercialized. The woods is then further processed into wood pellets. Wood pellets have a large market share as a fuel or energy. From the environmental aspects of the carbon balance will also give the best effect for the environment because fuel biomass is carbon-neutral fuels.

Calliandra cropping pattern that is generally 1 x 1m, so that enough space including for sheep grazing, or type of pasture are precision grazing. Land to pasture, the sheep in the calliandra plantation insulated to a certain extent depend on topography factors , roads access, woods harvest rotation system and the best grazing radius. For thousands of hectares of land could be made a lot of posts or units to take the sheep grazing. The above pattern will make the soil or land becomes very productive, and certainly if there are many people who do well then crises will be inevitable human needs, let alone there are millions of hectares of land or land in Indonesia abandoned. Sheep as well as the cows will be marketed to those in need both domestically and abroad. Saudi Arabia for example require 8 million sheep, and ¼ of its needs in the Hajj season. Besides freighter sheep graziers will come to them when they are able to provide 20,000 head each delivery (shipment).

So how after the soil fertile? Of course it could be used for a variety of trees more profitable as fruit trees and so forth. Calliandra trees can be harvested well for more than 20 years in every year and without the need for replanting every year. We take 15 years for example, then during the same line with lifetime machines of wood pellet plant in general. Thus practically at that time continued to productive land with a variety of crops with good management and sustainable. If after that too continue with calliandra tress to be used also the result will be the maximum that's because the good management. Calliandra plants is a pioneer or pioneer plant species so it is suitable for soil improvement that damaged or die.

That Muslims should also syirkah (cooperation) in the management of land (grassland or sources of food, water and fire (energy source), it is clear the the direction of the Prophet Muhammad: "The Muslims were syirkah (cooperation) in three ways, in terms of pasture, water and fire "(HR. Sunan Abu Daud). Water management is always in need of land, the trees need land for a place to grow so that it can help absorb water, water source (spring) emergence of surface soil, then to be able to manage our water must also have access to land management. What are the consequences if we do not want syirkah (cooperation)? Sources of livelihood are our primary form of food, water and energy will be managed by others and people become dependent on the fulfillment of the primary needs. When we are not self-sufficient in terms of basic needs, we can easily be misled in a variety of other matters..

Become the Major Player of Wood Pellets in Asia and the World

The world production of wood pellets in 2013 amounted to 22 million tons, and by 2024 is projected to be at 50 million tones. The European market for the year is projected to more than 30 million tons and the Asian market is projected to more than 15 million tons. Judging from the global energy mix, fossil fuels still holds the largest share of about 80% in the next 15-20 years, as well as in the national energy mix Indonesia based on PresidentialDecree No. 5 of 2006 on National Energy Policy. Although it is not holding the largest share of renewable energy, particularly biomass showed a significant increase over time. Factors such as the environmental crisis and the energy crisis had been the main thrust of the increase in renewable energy, particularly biomass, which is slowly making history repeat itself.

To be a leader or major player in the wood pellet Asian regional level to the global world, it is not impossible for Indonesia. The grace of Allah SWT be on average 11 hours per day of sun in Indonesia makes plants able to photosynthesize optimally, soil fertility due to weathering of rocks of many volcanoes, and the extent of territory that stretches from Sabang to Merauke is undoubtedly a major force potential. Under these conditions an energy plantation from calliandra can harvest very quickly over a period of less than one year, then can continue to harvest each year from coppice generated.

Sweden since the 1970s have used the energy planatation to supply biomass in large quantities consistently. The era of the 1970s was an era of energy crisis due to OAPEC embargo in the Yom Kippur war, so as countries of the Arab oil producers would not export its oil. This resulted in skyrocketing world oil prices, so that western countries should innovate to meet its energy needs, including the use of biomass massively. A number of countries in Europe followed to make energy plantations and included in other places such as the US, New Zealand and Canada. The rapid rotation strees namely poplar and willow cultivated in energy plantations and harvest on average every four years, or four times longer than Indonesia because the climate is sub-tropical. This is what we in Indonesia with the climatic conditions of the above need to be thankful to Allah SWT.

When the world is still largely rely on wood wastes as raw material for wood pellets, with climatic conditions in Indonesia as described above, the energy plantation will be effective and sustainable. And when eg Indonesia will target a major player wood pellets in the world with 50% of world production in 2024 (25 million tonnes / year) means it takes land approximately only 170 thousand ha, it is still much smaller than the land used for oil palm plantations today , which is about 11 million ha. The quality of land needed also unnecessary as well as oil palm plantations, even sloping land or in the form of the slope will be very good for calliandra tree. This is because calliandra very anti to waterlogging. If the plant capacity of wood pellets made of 100,000 tons / year (20 tons / hour) means it takes 250 units wood pellet plant or if the capacity of the plant made 50,000 tons / year (10 tons / hour) means it takes 500 units of wood pellet factory and so on.

Another advantage is calliandra able to control the growth of weeds like kirinyuh. Profits will be optimized by integrating with breeding goats or cows, so the import of meat can also be reduced. The leaves of the plant calliandra for the animal feed, while dung as fertilizer for calliandra plantation. If the number of animals very much so the biogas plant may be made and as a source of additional energy in the wood pellet mill.

Once paddle the two birds so the saying goes. The destruction of tropical forests in various regions turned out to be continued without can be controlled. Allegedly every second there is deforestation of tropical area of a football field, so that every year take place opening of tropical forests around 150,000 square kilometers (15 million ha). Disaster due to human greed in the form of floods, landslides, expansion of the desert and so as a result of forest destruction above. Rehabilitation well as land reclamation is needed for the improvement of environmental conditions so that a disaster could have been avoided, as well as the production of wood pellets as a source of renewable energy from biomass are the most widely produced today. With the improvement of soil fertility using the calliandra plants then in less than 5 years, which was originally barren land can be used for various agricultural activities. In an average period of 10 years, the springs are also very likely to occur in forested areas and the arrangement of these ecosystems. When the springs appeared the agriculture and forestry sectors could be growing, including the processing industry.

Certainly not the mild efforts to achieve this goal. Institutional arrangement, planting understanding of the sustainability of plantation / forest to the actors of business and government, expertise in the form of skill to the production and provision of adequate infrastructure is a challenge that must be overcome to achieve the above targets. The target will be achieved if all parties can be synchronized to achieve that goal. Again not too late, just a willingness to begin.

Carbon Positive, Carbon Carbon Neutral or Negative?

Greenhouse gases from burning fossilfuels have caused the Earth's temperature to rise. Increasing the temperature of the earth or global warming causing numerous disasters due to climate change in a number of places on earth. When greenhouse gases not controlled then the result of damage to the environment of the earth will be more severe. Therefore, efforts were made to reduce greenhouse gases as the cause of environmental problems. In general, there are four common scenarios to prevent the global warming effect of CO2 in the atmosphere gradually, namely:

1.     increasing the efficiency so the fossil fuel consumption decreases,

2.     mix of renewable fuels with fossil fuels so that fossil fuel consumption has also decreased,

3.     substitution of fossil fuels with renewable fuels

4.     and the absorption of CO2 in the atmosphere so that the concentration of greenhouse gases can be reduced.

Here are some basic terms related to the above problems. Based on the origin and the effect that CO2 in the atmosphere then reviewed as follows:

A.    Carbon Positive

Fossil fuel or fuel mines are grouped into Carbon Positive fuel. This is because the burning of this fuel would make gas content in the atmosphere, especially CO2 will increase. Increased CO2 in the atmosphere is the source of global warming issues above.

Carbon Neutral cycle with biomass thermal route

Carbon Neutral Cycle with biomass densificaion (wood pellet) route

B.    Carbon Neutral

When CO2 gas in the atmosphere does not increase due to the generation of energy from an energy source it is said that energy sources Carbon Neutral.  Because it does not add to or reduce the balance of CO2 diatmosfer it is said to be environmentally friendly energy. Renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind, water and sun are Carbon Neutral. Material substitution of fossil fuels with renewable fuels included in the Carbon Neutral scenario.

C.    Carbon Negative

Currently the CO2 content in the atmosphere has exceeded the threshold limit. The latest report says has reached 390 ppm, this would need to be reduced concentration. Various technologies are developed in order to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Naturally the tree is able to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, meaning that the more we plant a tree, the more CO2 diatmosfer reduced. Biochar or agricultural charcoal, the charcoal is used to fertilize the soil by placing it on the ground is a material that can absorb CO2 from the atmosphere as well as soil fertility, because its nutrient content and media for microbial breeding. Technology in the group Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) is a Carbon Negative technology, although currently still very expensive investment.

Come be part of the solution to perform activities of Carbon Neutral and Carbon Negative, and minimize part of the problem with Carbon Positive activity.

Briquettes and Pellets for Gasification

Uniformity of particle size is important for the operation of the gasifier. Unlike the updraft gasifier types (counter-current) are not too sensitive to the particle size of the raw material, the type downdraft gasifier (co-current) have a particle size uniformity requirement of raw material that  more stringent. Pelleting and briquetting is an attempt to obtain uniformity of particle sizes of raw materials, improvement of the quality of raw materials, and transportation savings. Materials such as sawdust, forest waste and empty fruit bunches of oil potential for compressed into pellets or briquettes.

Downdraft gasifier (co-current) will produce a cleaner gas from tar so that subsequent gas cleaning will be easier to do, to then be used as heating fuel, gasoline engines, diesel engines (dual fuel), or a gas engine to generate electricity. Updraft gasifier produces gas from too much dirty tar so that the gas cleaning more difficult and therefore its application mainly to the heat source. Downdraft gasifier applications so that wider and more widely used in a number of industries.

The production of briquettes or pellets should be done as close as possible to the raw material (raw material oriented) for technical and economic reasons, and then the product of wood pellets and briquettes can be transported to the gasifier unit location within a specified radius. Special briquettes, just type screw (extruder) are suitable for the gasification process. Gasifier product in the form of heat energy, mechanical energy, and electrical energy can directly be used by the user so that the orientation of the gasifier unit is approaching the user or market (market oriented).

Promote Energy Plantations

Photo is taken from here

Assuredness of supply of raw materials is absolutely necessary for the survival of industrial woodpellets, briquettes and other biofuels. Raw materials are homogeneous is better because it eases the process, compare with heterogeneous materials, such as raw materials are all derived from the tree trunk will be better than the raw material from a mixture of stems, midrib, leaves, roots, and so on. SRC with a short lifespan and can be harvested repeatedly is an ideal choice as energy crops. The extent of degraded land in Indonesia that reaches hundreds of thousands or even millions of acres of potentially utilized as an energy plantation by planting the SRC.

Gliricidia plantation

Calliandra and gliricidia are two types of SRC crops for energy plantation which has been widely cultivated as a pillar of wood pellet industry. Both the SRC plant was chosen because it requires prerequisites are easy to grow and thrive even live in degraded lands. It is possible to come at the same two advantages namely, sustainable supply of raw materials for industrial wood pellets and reforestation to prevent erosion, flooding and so on. Harvesting can be done after the age of about 1 year and crop later in the following year can be harvested again, up to a dozen times. Sri Lanka is one of the country due to lack of fossil energy then rested its energy from biomass, particularly the gliricidia plants. In addition to the stem can be used as raw material for wood pellet industry, the leaves can be fed to livestock, in addition to calliandra and gliricidia, the nectars can be used to farm honey bees.

Wood pellets are produced from raw material of calliandra and gliricidia has a high calorific value, ie more than 4000 kcal / kg, low ash content and high lignin content so as to facilitate the process of pelleting the wood pellets in the industry. Wood pellets for the main application as a source of renewable energy including carbon neutral fuel categories, this is because the source of wood biomass from photosynthesis using CO2 from the atmosphere and when used as a source of energy is released again into the atmosphere. So balance no additional CO2 in the atmosphere or carbon neutral.

 

The demand from countries such as South Korea with wood pellets made ​​from woody biomass only will further strengthen the promotion again this energy plantations for sustainable business. This is because the wood biomass has a number of advantages in calorific value, ash content and its ash chemistry than other biomass, especially agro-industry wastes. Compounds such as chlorine, sulfur and nitrogen is an important concern in the standard wood pellets.