The global climate change has become a big challenge for all people around the world. Around 76% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is equivalent to 41.2 billion tons of CO₂e resulted from consumption of fossil fuel energy (source: European Commission & IEA, 2023). Under such condition, bioenergy based on palm oil and palm biomass has emerged as effective and efficient solution to reduce dependence on fossil energy with high emissions.
The oil palm plantations do not only produce crude palm oil and crude palm kernel oil (CPO and CPKO), but also function to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) and produce oxygen (O₂) badly needed by humans and other living things. Besides, all parts of oil palm trees—including wastes—can be processed into a variety of renewable energy products.
Three Generations of Palm Bioenergy
- First-Generation Palm Bioenergy
This first-generation palm bioenergy uses crude palm oil (CPO + CPKO) to replace fossil fuels in transportation sector:
- Palm Biodiesel
- Palm Gasoline
- Palm Avtur (for airplanes)
- Second-Generation Palm Bioenergy
Processing palm biomass, such as empty fruit bunches, midribs, trunks, and palm kernel shells into various products as follows:
- Palm Bioethanol (for vehicles)
- Palm Biocoal (for power plants and heater)
- Third-Generation Palm Bioenergy
Processing the liquid waste of palm oil mills (POME) into various products of energy such as the following:
- Algae Biodiesel
- Biogas and Bioelectricity
The implementation of mandatory biodiesel program based on the use of palm oil as raw material has brought a significant impact in reducing emissions:
- 2016: 7.90 million tons of CO₂
- 2020: 22.30 million tons of CO₂
- 2024 (projected): 35.58 million tons of CO₂
- 2025 (projected): 41.46 million tons of CO₂
The Indonesian palm oil industries have huge potential to produce bioenergy, which is renewable, low emissions and can replace the fossil fuels. Such capacity makes palm-based bioenergy as the important part of global energy solution in reducing GHG emission and in tackling global climate change. (*)
Palmoilina.asia. Bioenergi Sawit, Solusi Mitigasi Perubahan Iklim Global. https://palmoilina.asia/berita-sawit/bioenergi-sawit-solusi-iklim-global/. Juli 7, 2025
