Learning from the Success of Wood Pellet Industry in Asia (Vietnam) and Europe (Latvia)

The trend of using wood pellets globally has not been long, it only started around the early 2010s and a number of countries responded quickly so that their wood pellet industry grew rapidly as part of their economic engine in line with the global trend for decarbonization and green economy or bioeconomy. The readiness of a number of countries to respond to this opportunity is also not without reason but indeed their insight and knowledge have supported them to do so. Indonesia as a tropical country with vast land and abundant human resources should also be able to boost the opportunities of this wood pellet industry so that it becomes one of the world's main players.

Vietnam and Latvia are two countries in the world that are currently leading the wood pellet industry, there is even the largest wood pellet factory in the world there, for more details read here. Initially, both countries also started this industry from a small capacity. For Vietnam, Vietnam's wood pellet production began in 2012 with a very small capacity of around 175 tons/year and currently in 2021 or around 9 years later, production has reached around 4.5 million tons/year, placing Vietnam in second place as a world wood pellet producer, after the United States. The total production of 4.5 million tons/year is supplied from 74 wood pellet factories in Vietnam. In 2020, 3.2 million tons of wood pellets were exported to Japan and Korea for power plants with an export value of nearly USD 351 million. In addition to Korea and Japan, Vietnam's wood pellet production is also exported to Europe.

Initially, Vietnam's wood pellet production used waste from the furniture industry. Furniture waste in the form of sawdust from the industry was dry and its particle size was suitable for wood pellet production, so equipments such as hammer mills and dryers were not needed. Many Vietnamese wood pellet factories at that time did not have hammer mills or dryers. With raw materials ready to be pelletized, the cost of producing wood pellets was very cheap, plus the cost of labor was also cheap. However, as the demand for furniture industry waste for wood pellet production increased, the availability of these raw materials became increasingly scarce, so that new wood pellet factories could no longer use these wastes. Waste from other wood processing industries such as sawmills and veneer factories also became raw materials. Furthermore, with the increasing production of wood pellets, forest wood waste and other round wood became the next source of raw materials. This also increased production costs because tools such as hammer mills and dryers were needed so that the raw materials were ready to be pelletized.

Meanwhile, Latvia, as a small country in northern Europe, saw an opportunity to lead in this growing industry. With almost half of its territory covered by forest, Latvia had the natural resources to produce wood pellets. In the early 2000s, with government support for responsible forest management, sustainable wood production was introduced, including support for entrepreneurs who wanted to start producing wood pellets. It wasn’t long before the world caught on. Countries across Europe, including the UK, Denmark and Italy, began relying on Latvian wood pellets for their heating and power plants.

Despite being a small country, Latvia has become a major player in the wood pellet industry, competing with larger countries such as Germany and Sweden. Latvia is now one of the largest exporters of wood pellets in the world. Latvia's success story teaches us that even a small country with strong will, focus on quality, innovation and sustainability, natural resources can lead to global success. Latvia's success shows that when there is government support, technology investment and dedicated people, even a small country can lead in a competitive global market. And as the world increasingly looks for clean and sustainable energy solutions, the success of Latvia's wood pellet industry is an inspiring example of what can be achieved with vision, hard work and a commitment to sustainability.

Tropical countries like Indonesia are a "heaven" for biomass energy, this biomass energy is like a green battery that must be developed, for more details read here. When small countries like Vietnam and Latvia can boost their wood pellet industry, then Indonesia should not want to be left behind. When great potential is wasted, then besides being an ungrateful attitude that will have an impact on poverty and environmental damage, it is also stupidity. The large amount of land available, even millions of hectares becoming critical land and multi-benefit from energy plantations should motivate the wood pellet industry. When Vietnam and Latvia can do it, Indonesia should do the same.

Wood Pellet Production: With a Rotary Dryer or Belt Dryer?

Air quality is an important factor in environmental health. The better the air quality, the better the environmental quality. Maintaining clean air quality is sometimes not something that is easy and cheap, especially for industry players. The higher the air quality standard used, the greater the effort and cost incurred.

In the wood pellet industry as an example, especially in the use of dryer. Almost all wood pellet industries in Asia use rotary dryer and almost none use belt dryer. Meanwhile, in Europe belt dryers are widely used because of lower emission than rotary dryers. In addition, belt dryers also have higher efficiency and can work at lower temperatures than rotary dryers. With a number of these advantages, however, belt dryer are also more expensive compared with rotary dryer.

Basically, rotary dryer can also have good performance, especially in terms of emissions if they are designed and operated properly. The use of high-efficiency dust collectors such as cyclones and bag filters can achieve high emission quality standards. However, the higher the efficiency of the dust collector, the higher the power required.

So the choice used actually depends on the expected air emission target. Europe and US/Canada generally have higher air quality standards than countries in Asia. This makes the emission aspect an important concern for them. Meanwhile, in terms of wood pellet production, the priority aspect is efficiency, so that with good performance the dryer can produce dry wood powder product that are suitable for feeding into pelletiser. The quality of the wood pellets as the final result is also very dependent on the quality of the dry powder product from the dryer. Meanwhile, in terms of safety, the high concentration of dust particles so that they can accumulate in a number of places in the wood pellet factory also has a greater potential for fires to occur.

Wood Pellet Export Opportunities
The lack of supply of wood pellets in Europe due to the Russia-Ukraine war caused wood pellet producers from Southeast Asia and North America to try to seize this opportunity. Production of wood pellets from Russia is estimated at around 3 million tonnes/year which previously filled the European market is now banned, so as a result of this ban the stocks of wood pellets in Europe have decreased drastically. The large demand and lack of supply will naturally push up prices, especially when coupled with increases in other energy commodities, so that the price of wood pellets continues to increase. In fact, because of the high price of wood pellets in Europe, wood pellets from Vietnam, which previously planned to be exported to Japan, were diverted to Europe.

It is also predicted that this uncertain condition will not recover in a short time. In 2021 Europe leads the production of wood pellets with production reaching nearly 20 million tons or around 48% of global production, while consumption of wood pellets reaches 24.5 million tons. Meanwhile, according to Hawkin Wright's data for 2020-2021, the growth in global demand for wood pellets has reached 18.4%, while supply or production growth is only 8.4%. Indonesia should have a great opportunity to become a major wood pellet player with its potential. The wood pellet production can be exported to Europe to cover the shortage of supply and in general to meet global demand.

When the Wood Pellet Industry is 100% Foreign Owned

Wood pellet has bright prospects in the future and is very well developed in Indonesia. Wood pellet whose application for energy is very strategic for the development of the nation. Even Europe in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) program is part of their large bioeconomy program. The RED (Renewable Energy Directive) has targeted the use of renewable energy to reach a minimum of 20% in 2020 with biomass consumption reaching 70% of the total renewable energy and by 2030 to be a minimum of 27%. For biomass energy, Europe is the largest wood pellet producer, with an estimated 13.5 million tons / year while consumption is 18.8 million tons / year, meaning that there is still a shortfall of 5.3 million tons / year. America and Canada are the main suppliers of wood pellet needs of European countries with the majority of the use of wood pellets for electricity generation. Indonesia as a tropical country and rich in various biomass, especially woody biomass, has the potential to become the world's leading producer of wood pellets.

In 2024, wood pellet needs are projected to reach 50 million tons while the current production of 20 million tons and Indonesia's wood pellet production is also still small, which is around 80 thousand tons / year. The increasing need for wood pellets is mainly driven by a number of policies to reduce the use of fossil fuels and substitutes with renewable energy, one with biomass and especially wood pellets. Fossil fuels produce CO2 gas which is increasingly heating up the earth's temperature (global warming) and climate change that have a negative impact on life on earth. Counted 24 earth conferences held almost every year and attended by hundreds of heads of state in the world to address global warming and climate change. The Earth Conference was first held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, last year (2018) in Katowice, Poland. Whereas in the Asian region there are at least 2 countries that need wood pellets of up to tens of millions of tons, namely South Korea and Japan.

Indonesia has great potential for wood pellet production and is even a major player in the world due to its tropical climate and vast and fertile land. With its tropical climate, it only takes 1 year to produce biomass equivalent to 4 years in sub-tropical countries such as Europe and America, which are fast rotating plants (Short Rotation Coppice / SRC) such as calliandra. But when the wood pellet industry was controlled by 100% foreign according to what the Indonesian government announced some time ago, it is certainly very unfortunate, this is because it will also be very possible that the land will be controlled by foreigners as well as producing wood for wood pellet production, citizens only have a role very minimal even just as an audience. In addition, the contribution that the state receives is also very minimal and will not provide welfare for citizens. No less important is that it is projected that in the next 10 years Indonesian petroleum will run out, then wood pellets can be a very potential replacement energy source. The development of wood pellets with wood raw materials from energy plantations and integrated with livestock is expected to make Indonesia self-sufficient in energy and even environmentally friendly and self-sufficient renewable energy. Integration of large plantations such as energy plantations and large farms for more details can be read here.

Energy is clearly a strategic sector even very closely related to state sovereignty. If a country is not sovereign in its energy sector, it is very easy to make a shock in that country. This should be realized together so that it does not easily provide control of the strategic business sector to foreigners. Indonesia should also develop its bioeconomy with its biomass potential, more details can be read here. Although the tropical country and rich in oceans turned out to make Indonesia a lot of rain and cloudiness, even Indonesia's rainfall is higher than the world average, so the development of solar photovoltaic energy becomes expensive and not an option, and biomass returns to the right choice and solution for the condition of Indonesia, more details are read here.

"The Muslims are syirkah (sharia business cooperation) in three ways, in terms of grasslands (land), water and fire (energy) "(Hadith Narrated by Sunan Abu Daud).

Syirkah is an effort to capture the great opportunity of wood pellets. Muslim fellow in particular must cooperate with each other to prosper the earth by making lands that are not or underutilized into productive land such as the hadith instructions above. If don't do syirkah it will be very difficult to capture this great opportunity. Landowners, capital owners and managers can work together to seize this opportunity and not become foreign property. Of course pro-people policies will increasingly support the wood pellet business that conducts syirkah.

Market Condition of Biomass Fuel

Indonesia has enormous biomass production potential because of its tropical climate, and extensive land. Biomass fuels from Indonesia which are now exported are wood pellets and palm kernel shells. Wood pellet production is still low in the range of 80 thousand tons / year, while the palm kernel shell is quite high at around 10 million tons / year. Both types of biomass fuels are mostly for export while in domestic is not yet widely used. Why the domestic market itself has not used much of both types of biomass fuel? This is because people are still dependent on fossil fuels, namely LPG gas to cook households and coal in the industrial sector. The government policy to increase the use of renewable and alternative energy needs to be encouraged so that biomass energy is increasingly used.

PKS Loading

As for the export market, the need for biomass fuel needs is greater and projected starting in 2020 will increase sharply. For palm kernel shells (pks) buyers are Korea and Japan. Currently there are many sellers of palm kernel shells, while the number of buyers is still limited. This raises the business conditions that are less healthy because the price of these commodities will be more determined by the buyer (oligopsoni). The practice should be avoided and resolved if the number of buyers and sellers is relatively balanced. How to increase the number of buyers of biomass fuel from Indonesia? For export markets other than two countries namely Korea and Japan which have been importing mainly Indonesian palm kernel shells for power plants, then promotion to look for other markets, such as China and Europe may also do. Currently there have also been buyers from Taiwan and Thailand although their needs are still relatively small for its use for heating in industrial boilers.

The market condition of palm kernel shells (pks) is different from wood pellets. The difference is that the wood pellet producers spread almost all over the world, as the raw materials of woody biomass are located almost all over the earth. While sales of bulk Palm kernel shells are only done in Indonesia and Malaysia which is the biggest CPO producer in the world as well as the largest palm oil plantation owner in the world. In addition, a number of large countries are promoting its wood pellets on a large scale so that the wood pellet becomes very popular, so the demand is increasing sharply and some countries are starting to start for wood pellet production. Wood pellets are more famous and worldwide than palm shells although the properties or characteristics of both as biomass fuel are almost the same. This condition should further encourage the Indonesian government to promote the palm kernel shell. In global market conditions with the number of producers and users of wood pellets that are also quite balanced in number, the market conditions are better, although some countries become major producers and control most of the market. While domestic pellet market is still small so it still needs to be encouraged its use as well as its production. Along with the public unrest due to LPG gas scarcity, the motivation to use wood pellet is also getting bigger.

While also waiting for 2020, the market or users in the country also needs to be made so that will increase the number of biomass fuel buyers. The use of biomass fuel is proven to provide economic and environmental benefits if the management is good and sustainable. When the biomass fuel market is large, then production should also be added. If the palm kernel shells (pks) are palm oil waste depending on the amount of CPO production, wood pellets can be produced separately especially with raw materials from the energy plantation so that the capacity can be very large. Currently, Indonesia's CPO production is around 35 million tons/year with a palm oil plantation area of ​​12 million hectares. The energy plantation can be optimized with sheep farming and honey bee farming (see 5F project for the world!), As well as for palm oil plantations (see Transmigration For Sheeping In Palm Oil Pantation, Could It Be?). Empty fruit bunches and old palm oil trunk that are not productive can also be made pellets. And especially for oil palm pellets (OPT pellets) we currently have demand for volume of 1,000 tons / month, for those interested in becoming a manufacturer, please read more here.

Wood Pellet Production Is The Best Option For Indonesia

Knowing the historical background, the potential and characteristics of a nation will facilitate effective and efficient policy making for the nation. But if only imitate from other nations without considering historical background, its potential and its characteristic hence can be sure that policy will be taken also not effective and efficient. How often our nation imitate the economic progress of a nation, but do not pay attention to three important points above, so the result is also not optimal. Every country has its own character, so we can not follow the model of economic growth of other countries blindly. For example: we go along with the economic growth of industry and services, as developed countries do, while the agriculture and forestry sectors have become scramble of other countries. So are the mines and natural gas, while for petroleum we even a importing country.

The neighboring country, Singapore which is a small population and the land is small also, of course, an interesting economic source is the service sector. Similarly in developed countries, which in addition to having a lot of resources, once the needs of its population are met, then the source of growth must be pursued from other countries. So they use industrial and service sectors to pursue that growth. Then what about Indonesia?

Indonesia has a very large population, 260 million people with a vast and fertile land. Tropical climate and high rainfall 3 times the world average makes it very potential for biomass production, both for the food, energy or other sectors. If we examine and analyze how big the food and energy sector is for the 260 million people, we will know how big the economic value is. Then easily we can answer, why other countries busy scramble the agriculture and forestry sector in our country.

Please readers make their own calculations of how much food they need (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals) as well as energy or fuel (for households, industries, vehicles and power plants). Of course the value will be very large, hundreds of billions of dollars even thousands of billions of dollars. Not to mention how much food and energy fulfillment from other countries (import), such as how much rice we import, soybean import, meat import, petroleum import, wheat import and so on. What if the imported goods are substituted by our own fulfillment and the long term can be self-sufficient or sovereign in the food and energy sectors. While tens or even hundreds of millions of hectares of land is available, then labor is also abundant.

Will we join forces to catch up on the sector of economic growth in the industrial and service sectors, while our food and energy production is dependent on other countries? Of course not as the answer. Will it easily eliminate that dependency? The answer is also not easy. First we have to change the paradigm, that we can self-sufficient food (which is certainly not just carbohydrates only) and energy. Secondly, we must revive the agricultural and forestry sectors, to meet the food and energy sectors.

In the energy sector, these lands can be used for energy plantations that later wood harvested for wood pellet production. In addition, the area of ​​the plantation can also be used for sheep grazing and leaves from the energy plantation is also a high nutritious feed for the sheep. Pastured sheep will spread the dung and urine as fertilizer for the energy plantation. With energy plantatins and sheep farming means in addition to being a solution to energy problems as well as solutions to food problems, especially protein. The lands that were initially barren became green again and provided economic and environmental benefits.

Back to the population of Indonesia as much as 260 million, of course the need for energy or fuel will also be very large as well. Formerly wood-fired stoves are widely used, currently only a small part of the countryside uses it because it has switched to using LPG fuel. Some time ago kerosene stove is also popularly used before LPG fuel. So technically basically is no problem using solid fuel, liquid fuel or gas fuel as long as the fuel is available, affordable prices and stoves are also available. When wood pellets are produced everywhere, the problem of fuel scarcity will be overcome. This is because the energy plantation and wood pellet production can be done anywhere, in contrast to natural gas whose source is only in certain places. Why not for wood pellet production? Extensive land, fertile, tropical climate, rainfall and abundant labor. Wood pellet production in addition to the region-based potential, can also be a model of new economic growth for the effective and efficient.

Wood Pellet Demand Crawling Up?

The fall of wood pellet market some time ago is also greatly influenced by the price of oil. The low oil price touched $ 30/barrel in early 2016 also lowered the selling price and demand for wood pellets. This condition even to shift the position of wood pellet as the cheapest fuel for the heating sector. At that time the energy price per calorie of oil which is a liquid fuel better quality and much in demand cheap, so that solid fuel that lower quality and less desirable also become cheaper. There are even many industries switching to using oil fuels than before using solid fuels such as coal. Wood pellets as one of the solid fuels (although from renewable sources) are also affected by the world oil price, because of the basis of calculating the price per calorie or heat of the fuel.

After almost 3 years of oil prices falling gradually, the current price of oil has risen drastically at the price of $ 70 / barrel. Some analysts say if crude oil prices more than $ 63 / barrel then the demand for wood pellets will rise again with prices that are also more attractive. Oil prices to be one of three causes of the decline in the wood pellet market in the world market in the last 3-4 years. The other two causes are the first, because a number of policies for the use of wood pellets have not been effectively implemented because the power plants have not yet been completed or in the development stage, and some power plants are still in the co-firing trial stage with wood pellets. And the second ,climate change then the winters in Europe in recent years been warmer or less as cold as those earlier times. Logically when the above conditions can turn out otherwise the wood pellet market will improve. And what we are witnessing today is a significant increase in oil prices, as it has exceeded $ 63/barrel.

As the wood pellet industry begins to wiggle and excite, it should also spur wood pellet production in Indonesia. Export market or world wood pellet market more ready and attractive prices need to be filled soon, so if need be dominated. Unused land even barren ones can be greened with energy plantations. Stages of designing energy plantation for wood pellet production can be read here. Furthermore, the domestic market is also need immediately created and developed, because in the short term we will also run out of petroleum, with the current conditions have become nett importers of petroleum. What if we just just sit there like a spectator? Certainly will aggravate our energy condition. We should participate to encourage the energy sovereignty of our country especially with renewable energy such as wood pellets because it provides many benefits.

Improving Dryer Efficiency At Wood Pellet And Wood Briquette Factories

Rotary dryer or drum dryer is a common type of dryer used in the biomass industry namely wood pellet and woodbriquette factories. The advantages of rotary dryer due to the construction is simple, easy in operation and the drying capacity is quite large. There are two important points to consider in the use of a rotary dryer dryer: 1. Heat flow pattern, single pass or triple pass drum; 2. Type of equipment for emission control, such as multiple cyclone systems or other types. Both of these will affect the dryer efficiency as well as the environmental aspects. In practice in Indonesia almost all rotary dryers use single pass with a co-current with material to be dried. Multi-cyclone with cyclone also serves as a temporary storage is also widely encountered.

Side of other efficiencies that can be improved that is on the heating media. This is because the fuel consumption for drying is costly. Currently the rotary or drum dryer drying process that operates by direct-contact between the flue gas heat with the dried material such as sawdust. The flue gas usually comes from burning wood waste as well. If the plant site contains bulk materials such as rice husks, peanut shells, palm shells, cashew shells and so on, improve efficiency with gasification technology can be done. The trick is to replace the flue gas burning furnace with gasifier or from the beginning has designed a rotary dryer with a gasifier as a heat generator. An increase of efficiency by 20% can be achieved by using the gasifier.

Heat gasifier type downdraft and work continuously will be suitable for the heat source. This is because the heat gasifier does not require a complicated syngas cleaning unit and with the downdraft type syngas will be cleaner because the resulting tar is much less than the updraft type.

Energy Development Based on Al Qur'an

Allah SWT hinted in the Qur'an Surah Yaasiin (36): 80 and Surah Waqi'ah (56): 71-72 that energy comes from green trees. From this it is very clear where the direction of energy development so that, that comes from the trees, so do not need to be confused with other sources such as grass, vines, plants that float or float in the waters and so forth. Of course, much wisdom and excellence about the source of energy from green trees because Allah Almighty Creator, Ruler, Regulator and Sustainer of the universe is hinted. The fossil energy we use today also comes from plants - millions of years ago. The instructions from Allah who accompanied the planting of trees, were the shepherding among the trees in the Qur'an An-Nahl (16): 10-11, A'basa (80): 24-32 and QS Thaahaa (20): 54 ). In the Qur'an Surah Al An'am (6): 143-144 among eight eight animals in pairs (4 pairs) are two (one pair) sheeps, a pair of goats, a pair of camels and a pair of cattle and sheeps mentioned in the first, of course this sheep has its own privileges, among others, sheep selected as the best animal for qurban (QS Ash Shaaffaat (37): 107) and animals that are pastored by all Prophets. By shepherding it among the woody trees, sheep farms are cheap because they feed on the grasses among the trees, the dirt from the sheep will fertilize the soil where the trees are planted and the grass that the sheep feed, the trees Will also absorb CO2 and release O2 for human breathing, the root of the trees prevents erosion, lowers the surface temperature of the earth, rebuilds ecosystems and so on. The absorption of CO2 by these trees will decrease CO2 concentrations in the earth, as greenhouse gases are causing climate change, and now the concentrations are already exceeding 400 ppm. Human with the limitations of their knowledge is very likely not able to capture all the wisdom contained from the verses of Allah.

For energy, our ranking is ranked only 63 out of 124 countries according to the World Economic Forum. It is not encouraging and it means demanding hard efforts also from various parties to be able to achieve adequate energy sufficiency. In the 1980s our oil production was estimated to be around 1700 Barrel Per Day (BPD) while consumption was only in the range of 400 BPD, while the current oil production is around 800 BPD while the consumption of 1400s BPD. Indonesia became a net importer of oil with a volume of about 600 BPD. Very large, so that in a short time the production volume will equal the volume of imports, until finally could be all the needs of oil comes from imports. It is predicted that in 10 years Indonesia will run out of this type of energy and must buy (import) from oil exporting countries. It could be in the coming years that Indonesia will buy all its oil needs, but keep in mind also as the increase of the population of exporter countries oil will also require more oil so that it is used for domestic consumption, and may not be exportable to other countries. Indonesia's natural gas is expected to run out in the 30s and coal 80s of the year from now. Are we going to continue to drain our natural resources as we do today until we become dysfunctional because we do not have adequate energy sources? While on the other hand hundreds of millions hectares of abandoned land, not used and only save the potential for disaster that can happen at any time. Are we going to pass on the natural damage to our children and grandchildren? Of course not. But how is the solution? The solution is to return to the direction of Allah through the verses of the Qur'an above.

Based on the form of energy or fuel grouped into 3, namely solid, liquid and gas. The three types of energy can be generated from the green tree. The solid-state energy or solid fuel, obviously derived from its wood can also be processed to be more efficient in transportation and its use by being a wood pellet and briquette (wood briquette). Wood briquette (sawdust briquette) is furthermore can also be made charcoal (carbonization) into charcoal briquette (sawdust charcoal briquette). The need for sawdust charcoal briquette is increasing from year to year especially in Saudi Arabia and Middle East as the huge need/consumption of sheeps there. Liquid fuels such as bioethanol can be obtained from fermented fruits and plants rich in sugar content. Woods with pyrolysis process will also produce liquid fuels in the form of bio-oil, in addition to gas fuel-rich methane and charcoal. Other liquid fuels are obtained by extracting the oil from the fruits produced such as palm oil, coconut oil and olive oil which can then be used as biodiesel. While gas fuel can be obtained by processing organic wastes from the process of processing these fruits by fermentation (biological route) so that biogas is formed rich methane gas, for example: the production of biogas from palm oil mill effluent or pome. Woods can also produce gas with technology, especially gasification (thermal route). These gases from both the thermal route and the biological route in addition to being fuel can also be processed into useful products for human life such as bioplastics and so on.

Densification technology into wood pellets and wood briquette is the easiest scheme or route in woody biomass processing and its current and future needs are also very large. This time also began to emerge producers of wood pellets and wood briquette in various regions in Indonesia. Generally, the production of the above two commodities still uses wood waste as its raw material with limited supply. Palm oil empty fruit bunches are solid waste palm oil mills that are currently not widely processed. As the world's largest CPO producer with a palm plantation area of nearly 11 million hectares and more than 600 palm oil factories, the waste of empty fruit bunches are also very abundant.

Making energy plantation is the best way to get raw materials. Moreover, energy plantation is also added with activity of sheep grazing and cattle fattening, as described in link 5F Project ForThe World!. Calliandra as a legume crop species and can harvest quickly with high productivity of wood and can grow again so that it can be harvested continuously every year without replanting until decades very suitable for plant of energy plantation. Extensive plantations with similar crops (monocultures) will make them vulnerable to disease. Fruit trees or hardwood trees are either made into a distraction from the calliandra energy plantation. The harvest of calliandra wood can be processed into wood pellets to meet domestic and export energy needs. The export market of wood pellets is huge because a number of countries in Asia and Europe have encouraged the use of energy from biomass especially wood pellets.

In the end with the motivation or encouragement of the Qur'an is coupled with the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW about syirkah (muslim cooperation) should every Muslim is increasingly compelled to implement these guidelines. Economic aspect or financial advantage as the main motivation to try will certainly also be obtained in addition to the main one is blessing. Only with these guidelines the management of nature will continue to be sustainable and provide optimal benefits for all human beings. Specifically for energy or fuel from woody biomass can be started from the manufacture of calliandra plantation and then processed for wood pellet production, to further fill the ready market as in European countries, Korea, Japan and so on, and while educating / preparing the domestic market. The second potential which is also very abundant but not yet widely used today is the empty fruit bunches of palm oil mill waste, to be made EFB pellet.

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.

Potential Mapping the Wood Biomass To Energy

When the need for renewable energy from wood biomass greater, then at a certain level of wood biomass derived from wastes sawmills, or industries wood processing and so be insufficient so that it is necessary other sources are able to fulfill this purpose. Energy plantation or forest by type of short rotation coppice or SRC is the best scenario for the purpose. While this is still very much forest in Indonesia is available when used for the manufacture of energy forests or plantations, such as in the schematic below.

Detailed mapping to identify a variety of things that needed to be urgently needed because it will be linked to the size of the investment for the manufacture of energy forests or plantations. Remote sensing via satellite, aircraft, hot air balloons and the like is one of the stages to get the detailed mapping. The location of the energy forest or plantations had previously been determined, and the remote sensing of the various more detailed information will be sought, such as boundaries, topography, plant species that are already on location, age of the plant, plant height, and the type of soil. Imagery or aerial photography from remote sensing are usually seen only difference in color and form will then be translated to be processed, analyzed and obtained information as desired.

 Further field surveys in the region also needs to be done to improve the accuracy of the information of the previous stages. Field surveys are usually conducted by several teams to make the plot area-an area in a specific area which used as a sample and analyzed to find the information needed. Particular method is also used to determine the location of the plot and the amount, so the more the plot as the samples taken in the area it will be more accurate mapping information.

Furthermore, after the whole information has been obtained then the decision will be made soon. Wood pellets are a form of biomass energy that is very popular for the international market either for electricity or heat generation sector. Increasingly needs wood pellets are expected to be increased, or 2024 global production of wood pellets will be 50 million tons. Old plants in the energy forests or plantations location can also be used for the production of wood pellets if the quality and quantity according to the raw material of wood pellets is approprit before eventually using wood biomass from the energy plantations or the forests.