July 1, 2021
Read about the developments that the WIPO GREEN team and local partners have worked on during the first three months of the Acceleration Project 2021 in Indonesia, including the first four new green technology needs.
Indonesia is the largest producer of palm oil in the world, with over 600 palm oil mils in the country and around 48.3 million metric tons of palm oil produced in 2020. One of the environmental challenges of this business is related to by-products of palm oil production – palm oil mill effluent (POME) – a non-toxic mixture of water, oil and solid particles and fibers. It is estimated that for each metric ton of crude palm oil, up to 7.5 metric tons of water are required, and more than 50 percent of this water ends up as POME. The wastewater has very high organic content and is typically stored in large open ponds also called lagoons. This can cause significant emissions of the highly potent greenhouse gas methane and can damage flora and fauna when released into local river systems. However, the high organic content also means that there is great potential for biogas production and other environmental friendly types of recycling.
In collaboration with an environmental NGO, Winrock International, WIPO GREEN is working to match the palm oil mills’ need for green solutions to POME management and use with existing technology solutions.
Anaerobic digester effluent separation technology
Needed by: Jun 29, 2022
Needed in: Bangka Island, Indonesia
A biogas power plant with an installed capacity of 2 MW gets POME supply from a mill with a capacity of 35 tons per hour. The mill is interested in separating sludge/cake from effluent water, to use the cake as a fertilizer and the effluent for land application or for further treatment. The cake quality should be analyzed further to determine its mineral contents. In addition, in the dry season, the mill experiences water shortages, so a potential re-use of the final effluent would be of interest.
Reducing GHG emission from existing POME treatment using open lagoons
Needed by: Dec 30, 2021
Needed in: Muara Bungo, Jambi, Indonesia
The mill’s capacity is 60 tons per hour, with the average daily fresh fruit bunches processed at 700–900 tons. The mill is looking for a joint venture scheme (build–own–operate–transfer) for a methane capture project or other technologies for the POME treatment. The methane capture is a preferable solution, as it can generate additional revenue. The mill does not have its own plantation and does not have additional demand for electricity. Cooperation with investors is welcome, assuming that the investor has strong buyers, for example for biogas or compost.
Needed by: Dec 30, 2021
Needed in: Muara Bungo, Indonesia
With the capacity of 60 tons per hour, the mill produces around 140–180 tons of empty fruit bunch (EFB) daily. This solid waste is a burden in the palm oil mill. It creates an environment for pests and diseases, and emits greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The mill is looking for a technology to transform the waste into organic fertilizer and promote sustainable farming. The treatment of the EFB could be combined with POME treatment e.g. in a composting process.
Technology to reduce hydrogen sulfide content
Needed by: Jun 29, 2022
Needed in: Bangka Island, Indonesia
A biogas power plant with capacity of 2 MW receives POME from a mill with a capacity of 35 tons per hour. The seeker requires a technology, mechanism, or method that can reduce the level of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that will enter the engine/generator from 500 ppm to below 200 ppm.
If you have or know of corresponding solutions, contact the seekers through the database or contact the WIPO GREEN team.
During the further stages of the project, a list of technological solutions will be compiled alongside an analysis of their practical and economic feasibility, with the ultimate goal of moving towards a more sustainable palm oil industry in the South-East Asian region.
The R&D section of the Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil Standard (ISPO) under the Ministry of Agriculture demonstrates how by-products form agriculture can be transformed into biochar and activated carbon through a simple pyrolysis process. Liquid smoke is also produced as a by-product and can be used as a pesticide and for other purposes. The technology can also be applied to empty fruit bunches which is a major organic waste product from the palm oil mills.
WIPO GREEN Acceleration Projects are focused on a particular geographical area or technological domain. The goal is to generate relevant knowledge about the green tech landscape in a particular sphere and to create a gateway to a range of local and international commercial networks. During each project, providers and seekers of green technologies make connections that can lead to green tech deployment or transfer.
Acceleration Project example: Green Innovation in Latin America.
WIPO GREEN is a global marketplace for sustainable technology, supporting global efforts to address climate change. Through its online database and regional activities, WIPO GREEN connects green tech seekers and providers in order to catalyze green innovation and accelerate green tech transfer and diffusion. Subscribe to the monthly WIPO GREEN newsletter.