Export of PKS and Wood Pellets for Biomass Power Plants and BECCS in Japan

In Japan, with approximately 290 biomass power plants, the transition to BECCS should be faster, but it's just a matter of policy and regulation. Installing CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) units at biomass power plants makes the plant's operation carbon-negative, or carbon dioxide removal (CDR) mode. The amount of carbon captured and stored, separating it from the atmosphere, can earn carbon credits that can be used for CCS operations at biomass power plants. Decarbonization to achieve the 2050 Net Zero Emissions (NZE) climate targets and the Paris Agreement are the driving force.

And because biomass power plants always require biomass fuel for their operations, this presents an opportunity for Indonesia to supply wood pellets and palm kernel shells (PKS). Power plants in Japan, most or the majority of biomass fuel comes from imports, such as the Kanda Biomass Power Plant (Kanda Biomass Energy) in Kanda City, northeast of Chiyoda, Tokyo. Kanda Biomass Energy uses three types of biomass: wood pellets (60 percent), palm kernel shells (PKS) (30 percent), and wood chips (10 percent). Wood pellets are imported from British Columbia, Canada and Vietnam, palm kernel shells (PKS) from Indonesia, and wood chips are imported locally from northern Kyushu. This facility consumes approximately 170,000 tons of wood pellets, then 120,000 tons of palm kernel shells (PKS), and 60,000 tons of wood chips per year.

Biomass power plants in Japan generally use fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology in their boilers. The reasons for using this technology are higher fuel flexibility, high efficiency due to good mixing, relatively low combustion temperatures, which minimize the problem of ash deposits due to melting and the use of excess air. It also further increases efficiency and reduces flue gas production. FBC technology is suitable for large capacities above 20 MW. Over time, this technology has been divided into two types: bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) and circulating fluidized bed (CFB). Generally, the differences between the two are not significant, such as fuel size, unit construction, and air-fuel ratio. Palm kernel shells (PKS) are more suitable for CFB power plants because they are less than 4 cm in size. Power plants in Japan, in particular, that use PKS or palm kernel shells as fuel because they use CFB technology.

With relatively low operating temperatures of 650-900°C, ash problems can be minimized. Certain biomass fuels sometimes have high ash content and ash chemistry that can potentially damage the generating unit. Furthermore, fuel cleanliness is also very important, this is because technically certain impurities such as metals can block the air pores in the perforated plate of the FBC unit, even though air, especially oxygen, is absolutely necessary for the combustion process and also maintains the fluidized fuel bed condition. These fuel cleanliness requirements must be met by the supplier or seller of the biomass fuel. Therefore, the buyer requires the amount of impurities (impurities/contaminants) that can be accepted is very small, namely around less than 1%. PKS cleaning is done by sieving either manually or mechanically. For more details on biomass fuel cleanliness issues can be read here.

The demand for biomass fuel is predicted to continue to increase. And biomass power plants continue to expand, with an estimated 6 GW of additional power plants projected to be installed in Japan by 2030, with an installed capacity of 7.3 GW by 2024. In fact, 11 new power plants are scheduled to come online by 2025, increasing annual biomass fuel demand by approximately 1.1 million tons. If Indonesia could also supply wood pellets to Japan by maximizing forest residue, sawmill waste, or other wood processing industry waste, that would be extraordinary.

As an estimate of forest waste utilization, for example, a production forest with an area of ​​200,000 hectares (approximately 2,000 km2) and because it is located in a tropical area with an average woody biomass growth rate of 20 tons/hectare/year, then the forest will produce 4,000,000 tons/year of wood every year from new growth. An area of ​​200,000 hectares may seem very large, but with Indonesia having almost 70 million hectares of production forest, an area of ​​200,000 hectares is only 0.29%.

For example, we set the default setting for wood utilization from production forests: 35% for building materials, furniture, flooring, etc., 30% for paper, tissue, and packaging, with 5% of the harvested wood remaining in the forest. Furthermore, 15% of sawmill waste (sawdust, chips, etc.) is used for wood pellet production, and the remaining sawmill waste is sent to pulp and paper mills and engineered wood industries.

And it is estimated that 35.3% of the 3.8 million tons/year of wood waste annually goes to wood pellet factories (approximately 1.34 million tons annually). In some locations the actual percentage is much lower because paper mills and engineered wood industries use more raw materials with the same raw materials as wood pellet factories. Therefore, in general, wood pellet factories are not located in locations that already have demand or existing use for pulp and paper and engineered wood industries. With the high water content, drying is necessary for wood pellet production, so the estimated wood pellet production is 650,000 tons/year. With the size of a handymax vessel that can carry 25,000 tons/shipment, this means 26 shipments are needed to Japan each year, or with a panamax vessel that can carry 50,000 tons/shipment, this means 13 shipments to Japan each year. 

Biochar for Sustainable Palm Oil Productivity

The Indonesian government emphasized the importance of sustainable palm oil productivity for food and energy security, as conveyed by Deputy Minister of Agriculture Sudaryono, at the opening of ICOPE (International Conference on Palm Oil and Environment) in Sanur, Bali, mid-February 2025. The conference, attended by delegates from various countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, India, the Netherlands, France, Finland, Colombia, and Spain, aims to formulate a sustainable transformation for the palm oil industry. Sustainable palm oil productivity can be increased by land intensification and the use of superior seeds. Even if land expansion is necessary, it must be done without causing deforestation. Meanwhile, for replanting in dry land, it can also be combined with upland rice or corn through intercropping methods.

Biochar is a powerful solution
Palm oil productivity can be increased by improving fertilizer efficiency, or Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE), as part of land intensification. Using the same fertilizer dose with the addition of biochar will increase palm oil productivity by around 20% or more. Fertilizer savings of around 30% with the addition of biochar will keep palm oil productivity relatively stable or at the same level as before. For efforts to increase palm oil productivity while avoiding deforestation, the first option is more appropriate: maintaining the same fertilizer dose as usual, but adding biochar to increase fertilizer efficiency.  

Indonesia's current CPO production reaches approximately 50 million tons/year across 16.4 million hectares, with an average CPO production of 3.55 tons/ha per hectare, or 3.55 million tons per million hectares. If biochar is used and productivity increases by 20%, this means an increase of 10 million tons of CPO per year (a total of 60 million tons of CPO per year), saving approximately 2.8 million hectares of land. The use of biochar will also slow down forest clearing (deforestation) for palm oil plantations.

Besides using biochar to increase palm oil productivity, other benefits from biochar production include the potential for carbon credits (BCR = biochar carbon removal) and the utilization of pyrolysis byproducts for palm oil plantations and palm oil mill operations in CPO production. This method offers several advantages for palm oil companies, such as savings in liquid organic fertilizer and pesticides, and the sale or export of 100% of the palm kernel shells (PKS). In addition to palm oil companies producing their own biochar through pyrolysis, it is also possible to establish separate companies or companies that collaborate with palm oil companies for biochar production under specific agreements.

Global pressure and scrutiny on the palm oil industry to adopt sustainable practices are increasing. Amidst soaring demand for palm oil in both global and domestic markets, increasing palm oil productivity is inevitable. Utilizing biomass waste from palm oil mills and plantations, such as empty fruit bunches (EFB) and trunks (OPT), for biochar production, and using biochar to increase palm oil productivity, is a powerful solution to address these challenges. Even for replanting dryland with upland rice or corn using intercropping methods, the use of biochar will also have a positive and significant impact on these intercrops. 

Palm Oil Mill Operation with Pyrolysis and Biogas Unit Integration for Zero Waste, Maximizing Profits and Sustainability

The goal of a palm oil mill to achieve zero waste, maximum profit, and sustainability can be achieved, among other things, through the integration of pyrolysis and biogas unit. This is because nearly all solid and liquid waste from the palm oil mill can be processed into products needed by the palm oil industry, both in the palm oil mill for CPO (crude palm oil) production and on the palm oil plantation for FFB production. With pyrolysis, solid waste is converted into biochar, producing excess energy in the form of syngas and biooil for boiler fuel. Biochar is first used to increase biogas production before being applied to plantation or agricultural land. 

The biogas product can also be used as fuel for palm oil mill boiler, along with syngas and biooil. This method allows 100% of the palm kernel shell (PKS) to be sold or even exported, thus providing additional profits for the palm oil industry. Currently, 30-50% of the palm kernel shell (PKS) is generally used for boiler fuel, mixed with mesocarp fiber, and the remainder is sold or exported. Biochar production with pyrolysis. The biogas product can also be used as fuel for palm oil mill boiler, along with syngas and biooil. This method allows 100% of the palm kernel shell (PKS) to be sold or even exported, thus providing additional profits for the palm oil industry. Currently, 30-50% of the palm kernel shell (PKS) is generally used for boiler fuel, mixed with mesocarp fiber, and the remainder is sold or exported. Biochar production by pyrolysis can utilize both coconut fiber (MF) and empty fruit bunches (EFB) of palm oil. The integration scheme is as follows:

 

The use of biochar on plantations and agricultural lands will save or reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. This is especially true for oil palm plantations, where the largest operational cost is the use of chemical fertilizers. Reducing chemical fertilizer use will result in savings in fertilizer costs. Furthermore, it will provide other environmental benefits, reducing environmental impacts by minimizing waste from excessive chemical fertilizer use. Biochar slow-releases chemical fertilizers, increasing fertilizer efficiency or Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE). Furthermore, when combined with biochar and organic fertilizer from biogas residue, the slow-release capacity of chemical fertilizers is further enhanced, resulting in higher NUE. Furthermore, another pyrolysis byproduct, pyroligneous acid (PA), is also highly beneficial for palm oil plantations as a liquid organic fertilizer and biopesticide.

Another source of income is carbon credits, or BCR (biochar carbon removal). Furthermore, carbon credits are currently a strong motivator for producers to produce biochar. To obtain these credits, biochar producers must register with a carbon standards organization and follow their methodology. Some popular carbon standards organizations include Puro Earth, Verra, and CSI. Meanwhile, for biogas production, carbon credits can also be obtained through methane avoidance mechanisms. However, the price of biogas from methane avoidance is usually lower than carbon credits from carbon removal or carbon sequestration with biochar. However, both can be accumulated and yield greater profits.

The operational potential of palm oil mills with integrated pyrolysis and biogas units for zero waste, maximizing profits, and sustainability is enormous and is predicted to become a trend because financial returns align with environmental benefits. Furthermore, environmental and sustainability issues are currently a global concern. With approximately 17 million hectares of palm oil plantations and 5.5 million hectares in Malaysia, the potential for biomass waste, particularly EFB and mesocarp fiber for biochar production, and POME waste for biogas production, is abundant. Globally, palm oil plantations cover nearly 27 million hectares. By 2024, Indonesia will be the world's top CPO producer with 56%, followed by Malaysia with 26%, and Thailand with 5%. There are more than 1,000 palm oil mills in Indonesia and approximately 500 in Malaysia. 

Cocopeat and Biochar

Both cocopeat and biochar have uses in agriculture, but there are a number of differences between the two. Cocopeat is mainly used as a planting medium because of its water holding capacity, while biochar in addition to having the ability to hold water like cocopeat also raises soil pH, holds or makes nutrients more available (nutrient retention), and also becomes a colony of soil microbes so that organic matter becomes rapidly decomposed and absorbed by plants. Cocopeat will also decompose in a not too long time like compost while biochar can exist and not decompose for hundreds of years. Under these conditions, biochar is also used to store CO2 (carbon sequenstration) and obtain carbon credits with a carbon sink mechanism.

 

Choose Biochar or Cocopeat?
With these advantages, choosing biochar would be better. Moreover, the cocopeat can also be used for biochar production. The carbon removal program to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is also in line with the application of the biochar. Increasing global awareness of climate change and global warming makes carbon removal programs that also provide economic benefits from carbon credits likely to continue to increase in the near future. This cannot be done with cocopeat.

Converting cocopeat into biochar is also not difficult, even with a variety of simple (low tech) equipments it can be done. But for a large capacity so that the carbon credit program can run, it requires modern pyrolysis equipment with a large capacity. With this equipment, in addition to biochar production, there is also a number of excess energy that can be used for various purposes, one of which is drying cocopeat before it becomes raw material for biochar with such pyrolysis equipment.

Bioeconomy in Ex-Coal Mining Land

Bioeconomy is defined as knowledge-based production and uses biological resources or living things to produce products, processes, and services in the economic sector within the framework of a sustainable economic system.

Coal which is a fossil energy with bioeconomy seems to be two contradictory thing. In practice, however, this may not be the case. After the coal deposit is extracted from the bowels of the earth, the land should be reclaimed so that it can be used for bioeconomy. Moreover, in the future era or era of decarbonization, the use of coal will also begin to be reduced due to its bad influence on climate change and global warming. A number of countries have prepared systematic plans for reducing the use of coal and in the future to not use it at all. Indonesia itself is a coal producing country with the third rank in the world (after China and India) with more than 550 million tons of production, which is the largest source of state revenue from the mining sector as well as many environmental problems due to the exploitation of the coal. The ex-coal land should be reclaimed so that it can be used again for productive activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry. Soil conditions after exploitation should be at least the same as before the coal exploitation. With its tropical climate, the bioeconomic programs should also be easier to carry out.

We are required to continue to learn so that we understand the changing circumstances, then understand the core of the problem so that we can do the best, including providing solutions. Sometimes a problem can be solved quickly, but on the other hand a problem needs a long and continuous solution. Factors of religion, politics, economy and natural conditions are a number of things that influence these changes. The problems of climate change and demographics are examples of problems facing humanity globally today and require gradual and long-term solutions. For the problem of climate change, in particular, a number of efforts have been made and seem to be getting more intensive lately.

In the future era, the combination of economic activities that are environmentally sound, but also capable of providing good economic growth or bioeconomy, with its premise on the safety of the earth, will greatly color human life. The high awareness of environmental problems distinguishes it from the exploitative economy of the past that left massive environmental damage. The financial economy or the financial sector but does not have an impact on the real sector, clearly does not provide benefits, even has repeatedly caused crises or has been proven to damage the economy itself. In more practical terms, the financial sector economy does not create new jobs. The food, energy and human goods sectors must be produced in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. For example, bioenergy as the best energy source must be continuously encouraged and improved, for a detailed explanation, read here.

Post-coal mining land is very minimal in nutrients and even acidic, so it needs preparation in the form of special treatment before being used for various purposes. This process can't be fast but also not too long, in a matter of 2-3 years the land should have been able to be used with the condition of the land or soil in good condition even better than before the coal mining activity. In addition to improving the physical and chemical structure of the soil, it is also necessary to add nutrients from organic matter. The use of biochar with its characteristics will be able to improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, even with the addition of organic matter it will also fertilize the soil better. The biochar will also be able to last for hundreds of years, unlike organic materials that may need to be added periodically to maintain soil fertility. The best organic material for post-coal mining is livestock manure. This makes livestock ideally suited to be integrated into the post-mining reclamation program.

With a land area of ​​​​millions of hectares, the recovery of the post-coal land will provide environmental, economic and social benefits. Of course this is very strategic considering the environmental hazards due to environmental damage can bring much greater natural disasters. Livestock especially ruminants will be the best entry point or “weapon” to start the reclamation by using biochar as a multi-benefit material. After the soil is fertile, any activities related to agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry can be carried out optimally. Biochar in addition to soil improvement also absorbs CO2 gas in the atmosphere so that it is very good for productivity and the environment, especially the climate. Climate change has now become a central and global issue in environmental issues and even the existence of the earth so that the policies of countries in the world take it into account. Raw materials for biochar production are also very abundant, both from plantation industrial waste such as palm oil and from forestry.

One of the tasks of human life according to Q.S. Adz Dzariyat 56 that must be carried out is 'Abdullah (a servant of Allah who is always submissive and obedient to His rules and will and only serves Him). The task of human life is also as the caliph of Allah on earth. This can be understood from the word of Allah in Q.S. Al-Baqarah: 30. Man is the noblest creature among other creatures (Surah al-Isra ': 70) and he/she was made by Allah in the best form/event, both physically and psychologically (Surat at-Tin: 5), and equipped with various potential tools and basic potentials (fitrah) that can be developed and actualized as optimally as possible through the educational process. Because of that, it is proper for humans to carry out the task of being the caliph of Allah on earth. The task of man as the caliph of Allah on earth, among others, involves the task of realizing prosperity on earth (Q.S. Hud: 61). Therefore, the task of caliphate is a sacred duty and a mandate from Allah from the first human to humans at the end of the age to come, and is a manifestation of the implementation of devotion to Him ('abdullah).

Furthermore, Allah SWT also mandates humans to re-establish balance in the universe that has been disturbed by justice (Surah 55:8-9). Currently, when the concentration of greenhouse gases continues to increase in the atmosphere so that the earth's temperature increases, it will cause icebergs at the two poles of the earth to melt, raise sea levels, climate change, to change the concentration of the earth's mass point and shift the earth's north pole. The shift in the earth's poles will affect the circulation of the earth to the earth and so will affect the position of the earth in the universe. What happens if these changes continue or even accelerate? The balance of nature is disturbed, the sun rises from the west and at the end there will be a collision between planets and stars in the solar system and the universe, there will be doomsday. Carbon trading is one of the efforts to reduce these greenhouse gases, and as human awareness continues to increase, the price of carbon or the cost of compensating for CO2 gas has increased recently.

To reduce the earth's temperature, namely by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases. To reduce 1 ppm concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is equivalent to absorbing about 15 gigatons of CO2. Meanwhile, the costs required for mitigating major climate change disasters are estimated at USD 1.6 trillion to USD 3.8 trillion annually. To reach the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere to 350 ppm, it takes about 70,000 biochar the size of the Giza pyramid, assuming that fossil fuels are discontinued. With a Giza pyramid volume of 2.6 million m3 and an average biochar density of 200 kg/m3, the Giza pyramid-sized biochar weighs 520 million kg or 520 thousand tons. Great job of course. Biochar production should grow 5000 times from its current production capacity. With biochar the size of the Giza pyramid unit we need to build 4 pyramids per day (about 2 million tons of biochar per day) for the next 100 years and starting now. And the post-coal mining land is likened to a dead earth, while humans as caliphs on earth are ordered to prosper this earth by fertilizing the soil.