South Tangerang — BRIN Public Relations. Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB), commonly known in Indonesian as tandan kosong kelapa sawit, has long been regarded as a residue of the palm oil industry. Now, through a collaboration with Japan’s Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. (SHI), Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing technology that allows this residue to be used as biomass fuel for boilers.
The research doesn’t stop at simply using EFB as fuel. BRIN and SHI are developing a comprehensive technology chain that includes fuel upgrading, combustion characteristic testing, and boiler design aimed at enabling operation on 100% EFB without blending fossil fuels or other biomass.
The Challenge of Using EFB as Boiler Fuel
Tata Sutardi, Head of BRIN’s Research Center for Energy Conversion, explained that direct use of EFB faces several challenges. The material has a relatively low calorific value along with high moisture, alkali, and chlorine content conditions that can reduce combustion efficiency and accelerate damage to boiler systems.
“Each upgrading technology can produce different fuel characteristics. That’s why, beyond observing changes in fuel properties, we also need to evaluate combustion characteristics to determine their suitability for boiler needs,” Tata explained in an interview with BRIN Public Relations (Sept 14).
5 Fuel Upgrading Methods Studied by BRIN
To address these challenges, BRIN is studying five biomass fuel upgrading approaches:
- Fuel washing
- Hydrothermal treatment
- Torrefaction
- Decarbonization
- Biological treatment
These five methods are aimed at producing EFB fuel with characteristics better suited to boiler combustion needs. Upgrading results show increased calorific value along with reduced moisture, alkali, and chlorine content in EFB.
Lab-Scale Testing with a Full-Firing System
Taopik Hidayat, Junior Engineer at BRIN’s Research Center for Energy Conversion Technology, explained that the research is directed toward developing boiler technology with a full-firing system combustion using 100% EFB without blending fossil fuels or other biomass.
After the upgrading process, each fuel is tested at lab scale using a fluidized-bed boiler simulator at the B.J. Habibie Science and Technology Park (KST) in Serpong. This testing compares each method’s ability to produce biomass fuel that is suitable both technically and economically.
The testing phase is supported by a Fuel Analysis Module provided by SHI, consisting of an Ashing Furnace and a Fluidizing Furnace, used to evaluate the combustion characteristics of biomass after upgrading. The device was installed and commissioned from August 11–28, 2026, at the Energy Laboratory, KST B.J. Habibie, Serpong, Banten.
Heading Toward Testing in Japan
Of the five methods tested, BRIN and SHI will determine the most promising technology for further development. The selected technology will move toward the scale-up stage before being tested at SHI’s Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boiler Pilot Plant in Niihama, Japan.
“By conducting lab-scale combustion tests using BRIN’s fluidized bed and Sumitomo Heavy Industries’ Fuel Analysis Module, we can see how far various fuel upgrading methods can improve the characteristics and performance of EFB as a fuel,” Taopik said.
The collaboration also involves developing boiler designs tailored to the characteristics of upgraded EFB an integrated approach spanning fuel quality improvement, combustion characteristic evaluation, and boiler system design adjustment.
For Indonesia, this technology opens opportunities to increase the value of empty fruit bunches as an industrial residue, while also serving as a potential alternative fuel source for boilers that could reduce dependence on fossil fuels, particularly coal.
Indonesia–Japan Research Collaboration
This technology development is part of a phased research collaboration between BRIN and SHI:
- October 22, 2024 — Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Research and Innovation Collaboration in Low Carbon Technology and Manufacturing
- February 26, 2025 — Agreement on the Development of Biomass Boilers Based on Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) Fuel
- May 18, 2026 — Agreement on Supply of Fuel Analysis Module
Taopik emphasized that beyond increasing the value of palm oil industry residue, this development is also aimed at supporting energy source diversification and low-carbon energy technology in support of Indonesia’s Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 target. (*)
Brin.go.id. “Tandan Kosong Sawit Tak Lagi Sekadar Limbah, BRIN Kembangkan Teknologi Boiler Biomassa”. Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN). https://brin.go.id/news/130483/tandan-kosong-sawit-tak-lagi-sekadar-limbah-brin-kembangkan-teknologi-boiler-biomassa
