Wood Pellet Production From Calliandra Energy Plantation

Scheme of wood pellet production from calliandra energy plantation:

Utilization of Air Pressure For Biomass Drying

In the process of production of wood pellet and wood briquette, dryer has an important role due to regulate the moisture content before compacted (densification). Almost all wood pellet and wood briquette factories also use a dryer to keep the quality and quantity of the production. Today most of the drying of biomass using heat from combustion flue gas directly (direct heating) and a fraction using the heat of combustion indirectly (indirect heating). Of course the main concern is the issue of effectiveness and economics. Drum dryer or a rotary dryer is the most common type of dryer and popular because it proved capable of drying a large scale economically. Several types of dryers are also widely available and developed at this time with a variety of characteristics. The availability of a number of options also allow users or the industry to make their choice if they wish to withdraw and not fixated on one option only.

One type of dryer that started appearing on the market that take advantage of the heat of compression dryer (heat of compression type dryer). When the compressed air, more energy is converted into heat which is then stored in pressurized air (compressed air) and normally the heat is simply discharged in a cooler (cooler). At dryers that utilize hot air compression, the energy used to regenerate the desiccant, thereby eliminating the need for heating or heat is utilized directly in the drying. This type of dryer is also energy efficient than refrigerated air dryer type while the dew point is also much better than refrigerated type air dryer.

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.

History Repeated Back In The Field of Biomass

Biomass and wood in particular have been known and used very long for an energy source. The wood is burned to produce heat that can be utilized for human life. The utilization of biomass including wood also became a main source of energy when fossil fuels has not been found or exploited. When fossil fuels become a major fuel source as it is today, then the fuel from biomass is reduced. Conditions such as this makes oil-producing countries have a strategic role in the international arena. Energy is in many ways identical to the petroleum fuel, because its role is vital for human life today.

When there is a state of war, including World War II, namely in 1940 and the Yom Kippur war in the 1970s, many countries experienced an energy crisis that forced them to develop a range of alternative energy. Biomass as a renewable energy back received great attention. Biomass as an energy source to produce energy is relatively stable compared to wind and solar are affected by weather conditions. Conversion of biomass into various forms of energy are also carried out on-era World War II, this is due to adapt to the various needs of the moment. Vehicles, and various industrial original equipment using fossil fuels is replaced with a source of energy from biomass. This makes the findings of biomass utilization technologies that can run a number of existing equipment including fulfilling life. Biomass is the only renewable source of carbon-based so that it can be synthesized into a wide variety of hydrocarbons such as petroleum. In conditions of war, biomass have been converted to solid fuels, liquid fuels, gaseous fuels and other chemicals.

Technologies such as gasification, pyrolysis, combustion, and densification are some of the main technologies used for the conversion of biomass energy. By gasification will be the main product obtained in the form of gas that can be directly used as fuel or synthesized into oil or other chemicals.  With (slow) pyrolysis will be obtained charcoal as a primary product, then gas and liquid products as the byproducts. As well as gas produced from gasification, pyrolysis gas from the results of these also can be used as fuel directly or synthesized into other chemicals. The Liquid product of pyrolysis, bio-oil that can be used as fuel or source of chemicals. While other liquid product namely wood vinegar can be used for a variety of uses in the agricultural sector.

Steam Railway, at the Ambarawa Railway Museum, Central Java, Indonesia

Combustion is the most popular technology used for steam engine, especially in the mid-19th century. James Watt made improvements to the steam engine so that makes it rotates continuously used as a driver in a variety of industrial and transportation or mark the era of the industrial revolution in Europe at that time. Steam train (steam locomotive) is the application of the steam engine in transportation. The first time the steam engine to the train running on rails was made by Richard Trevithick in 1804. While to produce electricity, the steam engine that produces mechanical energy is connected to a dynamo (generator). Charles Parsons was the first to connect the steam engine with dynamo and done in 1884. This makes the electric becoming easily available and widely available.

Densification technology also received serious attention during World War II in 1940s and the during the oil crisis of 1973 as a result of OAPEC embargo as a impact of the Yom Kippur War. Densification technology makes biomass initially have size irregular, low density, large volume, high water content into a uniform shape, high density, low water (moisture) content and volume decreases or there are a number of improvements physical properties so that it becomes more economical to transport , easier handling in use and storage. Briquettes and pellets are the two forms of biomass densification products are most popular and became the forerunner of today's densification technology.

Today, when the environmental crisis-induced excessive human hand in exploiting natural resources including massive fossil fuel use become the driving force for the use of renewable energy then so biomass energy again received fresh momentum and become a focus for some circles. Recorded since the UNFCCC in 1992 until the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 by 83 countries and at the time of enactment of approval in February 2005, it has been ratified by 141 countries is in order to address the environmental crisis, especially due to the high concentration of greenhouse gases (CO2) in the atmosphere are believed to cause climate change and global warming. Kyoto Protocol in force until 2012 and then extended to the Kyoto Protocol Extension (2012-2020).

Policies that are more regional and technical hereafter devised based Kyoto protol include RED (EU's Renewable Energy Directive), commonly known as the 20-20-20 targets or mandates that are intended to reduce 20% of greenhouse gas emissions from 1995 as the level basically; 20% decrease in energy consumption; and to 20% for renewable energy. Wood energy needs of approximately 30 million tonnes / year by 2020. Furthermore, South Korea has issued a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) which requires a minimum of coal to the power plant using renewable energy 2% in 2012, with an increase of 0.5% / year until 2020. In 2020 they will need a minimum of 10% renewable energy with the expected composition of 60% of renewable energy derived from woody biomass (wood energy), while the remaining 40% from other sources. Japan issued regulations Feed in Tariff and so on which makes the wave era of world energy use of biomass increasingly felt.

Drax England, The Current Largest Biomass Power Plant 

Biomass energy is grouped carbon neutral it will be able to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere today that has exceeded the threshold. Biomass then become an important material and use on a large scale. Technologies of processing biomass in World War II and the oil embargo back in use, of course with some improvements adapted to current technological advances such as improved efficiency, safety, automation up to computerization but fundamentals or principles of process technology used virtually unchanged. These technologies today raised again. More so the environmental crisis coupled energy crisis will be the driving force of its own to the larger switch to renewable energy, including biomass. And is not it back indicates to the era before the 19th century when most of the energy used by humans are a group of renewable energy?

Looking Wood Pellet Market In Asia

Wood pellet market growth projections indicate Europe as the main market with a consumption of 25-30 million tons in 2020, about 2.5 times more than the consumption in 2010 of 12 million tonnes. The  countries main producing wood pellet currently are Canada, USA, Sweden and Germany. The United States is the largest producer of wood pellets, but the majority of its production for domestic consumption for space heating (home heating), while Canada as the largest manufacturer of wood pellets after the United States, approximately 80% of production is for export. The big market changes that occurred in the Asian markets of less than 1 million tons in 2010 to about 15 million tonnes in 2020. Global wood pellet production also increased which grow up to 300% from 2012 to 2020, from 16 million tons to 40-50 million tons.

Global Energy Production by Source
Source: EIA 2008

Areas that are able to produce wood pellets with low prices would be a major exporter of wood pellets. Two components that are very influential in the production of wood pellets is the price of raw materials to factories and transportation costs to market. The position of Indonesia is located in the Asian region with a tropical climate so the potential to becomethe largest producer of biomass has a strategic role of being a manufacturer of wood pellets for the Asian market. Below are three major countries in Asia as market for wood pellets:

South Korea’s energy consumption by type. Source: Economic Intelligence Unit 2009

South Korea Market Development

Although South Korea is a small country, but a country 10th in the world with the energy user fifth oil importer and second importer of coal. Currently produces about 65% of the electrical of fossil fuels. South Korea seriously to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 30% reduction in CO2 emissions from 2010 levels by 2020. South Korea has also issued a RenewablePortfolio Standard (RPS) which requires a minimum power plant to use the 2% renewable energy by 2012, with an increase of 0.5% / year until 2020. In 2020 they will need a minimum of 10% renewable energy with the expected composition of 60% of renewable energy derived from wood biomass, while the remaining 40% from other sources.

Japan’s energy portfolio. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration 2010

Japanese Market Development

Japan has almost no natural resources, so that imports nearly all of almost all the coal, oil and gas. Japan is the largest importer of natural gas and petroleum ranked second in the world. Since the accident or the explosion of Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, the Japanese government review of national energy policy and resource development. The policy indicates that for the next 10 to 20 years for renewable energy, the increased use of non-fossil energy to 50% and greenhouse gas reductions in electricity generation from 34% to 70% in 2030.

China’s energy consumption by type. Source: Economic Intelligence Unit 2009

China Market Development

China is currently the second largest energy user after the United States. Energy is the foundation of economic growth in China. Coal is the main energy in China that make this country the largest user of coal in the world. Although very little renewable energy policy announced by the Chinese government, China in its five-year plan to allocate $ 750 million in direct subsidies, incentives and tax exemptions for building 200 green energy demonstration project in 2015 or at least 15% of its energy needs from renewable energy. China has also set up a biomass energy production with a target of 50 million tonnes of coal equivalent by 2012. Although the 5-year plan does not indicate specific green energy projects to be addressed, a number of assumptions stated China will produce wood pellets to replace coal. The majority of the production of wood pellets also comes from domestic production so that its import was minimal.

Planting Trees For Answering The World Problems

By planting a variety of essential human problems in life can be overcome, namely food, energy and water. These problems currently faced by humans for a variety of environmental damage is also caused by the act of the hands of men themself. There are many types of plants created by Allah SWT  (God Almighty ) in this world, so choose the one most suitable is the thing we need to do. Revive dead land and making it productive so will productive for human life, of course is highly recommended especially when the world is plagued by crises such as food, energy, water supply, including clean air. Currently there are an estimated 1 billion people on this earth who are facing the problem of hunger.  Millions of hectares of land are still abandoned and not used, even globally each year there are approximately 6 million hectares of land or farmland into deserts (desertification) due to the barren and unused. Forest area continued to narrow so it is still very far from the standard minimum requirement for a region is a concern in itself.

When the soil has been damaged so it needs to be restored, the plant species of legumes (Leguminosae) is the most suitable in these conditions. This is because the plant species of legumes have characteristics: cool / moisten the surface of the soil, the root nodule being able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere means able to fertilize the soil damaged / barren, and capable of preventing erosion. Calliandra is the type of crop legumes (Leguminoceae) suitable for these conditions. The main results of wood for energy as for the production of wood pellets and byproducts in the form of leaves for farm goat or cow and flowers for honey bee breeding is to address the problem of food. Integration plantation / forest of calliandra with farm goat / cow will make the business optimally. Addition of new water sources is also very likely arise as a result of the plantation or the forest of calliandra. Calliandra plants that can be harvested relatively quick at an average of 1 year and still be productive until about 25 years into the future without having to plant every year because of the pattern coppice, has its own charm. Furthermore, on the sidelines of the Calliandra plants can be planted from other types that are tailored to local needs and conditions, for example caliandra with corn, Calliandra with bananas, Calliandra with pine, Calliandra with olives, Calliandra with dates palm and so on.

Calliandra age 1 week

Calliandra age of 2 weeks

Calliandra nursery for 1,200 hectares energy plantation

Another thing that should we acknowledge is the position we are in the tropics with beautiful nature, vast territory and fertile land (before it breaks). With the tropical climate of the sun will shine throughout the year so that the process photosintesa of the plant will run optimally it will accelerate the productivity of plants such as Calliandra.  With these conditions in Indonesia Calliandra timber productivity on average 4 times faster with plants poplar / willow in the sub-tropical or take 1 year in Indonesia, which is equal to 4 years in sub-tropical regions for the same amount of timber (wood). If all optimized then Indonesia is very likely going to be the largest biomass producer in the world capable of answering the problems of the world. Whereas in the energy sector are very suitable conditions when the world is also vying for loweringthe temperature of the earth with its biomass energy waves. 

Scrambling Biomass Waste Empty Fruit Bunch of Palm Oil: For Paper or Pellets?

In an effort to optimize the full potential of a number of oil companies are planning to process their wastes that resulting from the CPO production process. One of them is empty fruit bunches (EFB).  Two alternatives are being hotly debated is made pellets for energy and for the paper. Viewed from the business side, if it is profitable so is certainly not a problem for the production of both products. Availability of raw materials into one of the important factors in terms of production and business in general.

Further analysis can be done by looking in more detail in the production process technology, the amount of investment, ROI, environmental aspects, sustainability of core business (palm oil) and benefits of the products produced are a number of factors that will make it easier to eventually choose one. Further know more detail about the characteristics of each business such products will also further increase the stability of both products. In the end, the higher score determines the choice or priority of both, and if it turns out an analysis of both the same score then also no problem if both run concurrently if the resource is also capable.

Although the quality of pellets and paper products from palm oil waste raw material was also not the best grade when compared with paper products or pellet of woody raw material, but then when the business is profitable then it is nice to be produced as well. This dilemma is also experienced as agro-based plant (agro-industry), such as sugar cane factories, where baggase can be processed into paper or pellets.