JAKARTA – Is it true that palm oil as feedstock of biofuel is more wasteful in the use of water compared to other vegetable oils used as the sources of biofuel? The following facts and descriptions will tell the truth.

Water consumption in agricultural sector has become a topic of global discussion. The water consumption in the world has increased almost sevenfold compared to that of a century ago (Gleick, 2000) and the agricultural sector has become the world’s largest user of freshwater, with a share of 85 percent (Hoekstra and Chapagain, 2007).

Concerning this, the palm oil is often accused as not ecofriendly feedstock of biofuel as it is said wasteful in using water for each ton of output produced. Is it true or not?

To answer this critical question, it is necessary to look at empirical studies relating to the comparison of water use to produce one Giga Joule (GJ)   bioenergy. The study of Gerbens-Leenes et al. (2009) revealed that oil palm is among the most economical (after sugarcane) in using water for every Giga Joule (GJ) of bioenergy produced (photo-4).

The bioenergy-feedstock crop that is most greedy for water is rapeseed, followed by coconut, cassava, corn, soybeans and sunflowers. To produce each Giga Joule of bioenergy (oil), rapeseed plants require 184 m3 of water. Coconuts require an average of 126 m3 of water. Cassava plants as the source of ethanol require water with an average of around 118 m3. Soybean plants require an average of 100 m3 of water. But sugarcane and palm oil are apparently the most efficient in using water for each bioenergy produced.

By considering the above data, it is clear that oil palm is relatively water efficient in producing bioenergy. For every Giga Joule of bioenergy produced, palm oil only uses 75 m3 of water. (Mitos 6-25)

References:

• Gerbens-Leenes, Hoekstra P. Van der Meer, T. 2009: The Water Footprint of Energy from Biomass: a Quantitative Assessment and Consequences of an Increasing Share of Bioenergy Supply. Ecological Economics. 68 (4): 1052-1060.
• Gleick PH. 2000. The Changing Water Paradigm: A look at Twenty First Century Water Resources Development. Water International. 25 (1): 127-138.
• Hoekstra AY, Chapagain AK. 2007. Water Footprint of Nation: Water User by People as a Function of Their Consumption Pattern. Water Resources Management. 21(1): 35-48. (*)