Indonesian Oil Palm Industry have to be "Zero Waste"

Oil palm plant

Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture requested the palm oil processing industry to apply the pattern does not generate waste or "zero waste" from its production.

Director General of Plantation of Agriculture Ministry, Achmad Mangga Barani  said the palm oil industry to utilize the waste from the processing of either solid or liquid into a more useful products.

He said that all this waste was not taken and just dumped and hoped oil palm plant is really zero waste.

He added that one of the benefits of palm oil processing waste is utilized to biogas processing which is capable of generating electricity that can be used for industry or sold to the public.

According to him, to large scale oil palm industry, which has a capacity of more than 30 tonnes of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) per hour, so far generally has utilized their wastes then no waste products that damage the environment.

As for medium-scale palm oil mill, has not been much work on sewage treatment because they still concentrate on producing crude palm oil or only palm oil.

Oil palm fruit

He thought that it would be nice if all such companies processed the waste, because it all  will be a "zero waste", all the components that processed  has no waste at all.

Meanwhile, according to PT Eka Bukit Creative Energy of Indonesia, as the largest oil palm industry country in the world's, the national CPO production reached 20 million tons per year from an area of 7.12 million ha.

Meanwhile, the number of  palm oil mills (POM) is more than 400 units with an installed capacity of 16 thousand of FFB per hour appeared to have potential to generate enormous waste that is 0.53 cubic meters of liquid waste / tonne of FFB processed and 0.25 tons EFB / ton FFB processed.

He said that wastes must be managed in accordance with regulations and laws in force which means this is a cost for the company.

Companies engaged in renewable energy, particularly in the field of biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, biomass and CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) was introduced biodigestor to address waste from palm oil processing which can produce electricity.

He explained that the processing of palm oil waste into biogas not only reduce the cost of waste disposal but could produce economic benefits.

He gave an example that for the POM with a capacity of 30 tonnes FFB per hour or 146 thousand tons / year,  then approximately 94,900 cubic meters of wastewater produced per year can produce 1.55 cubic meters of methane (CH4).

From that much production of CH4, it can produce electricity for 5.12 million kwh / year or 1 MW and if each kwh sold worth 0.08 U.S. dollars revenue. It will get 410 thousand U.S. dollars / year.

And for the rest of dry waste that is generated when processed into electricity with the boiler system will generate additional electricity for a total of 1.5 kw to 2.5 kw with a total income of 1.36 million U.S. dollars.

Source: antaranews.com

Translated by: harrys

Brazil toasts ’sweet success’ with growing biofuels industry

Following on from the initial success of the world's first application of sugarcane-based ethanol in a gas turbine system, American energy conglomerate General Electric (GE) has received a contract from Brazil's federally power firm Petrobras, to transform a second unit on the same site, so that it too burns the alternative fuel.

The plant in question serves the entire population of Juiz de Fora – a city located to the north west of Rio de Janiero. Maria da Graca Foster, director of gas and energy for Petrobras, recently explained the development and said that it promised a number of benefits.

"Petrobras and GE formed a successful partnership for the conversion of a first aero-derivative gas turbine at UTE Juiz de Fora (MG) for dual-fuel operation – natural gas or ethanol. It is the first power plant in the world to operate with ethanol to generate electricity. Now, the partnership is repeated for the conversion of the second turbine at UTE Juiz de Fora. This is another Petrobras initiative to diversify sources for power generation, allowing greater flexibility in its power plants," she said.

At present, the Juiz de Fora plant is a simple-cycle natural gas plant, with an overall output of around 87 megawatts. The facility boasts two gas turbines – one with GE-customised combustors enabling the use of ethanol as well as natural gas. This special capability is said to enhance the plant's energy security and boost its reliability, by providing a valuable alternative source, where previously only one type of fuel could be used.

Darryl Wilson, vice-president of GE Power and Water's aero-derivative gas turbines division, said: "GE’s strategic marketing group has recently concluded that electricity demand is expected to double in the next 20 years, while demand for clean water may triple. With this growth, a greater demand for unconventional fuels, especially those that help control atmospheric emissions, is likely."

He added: "To better support this rising need for reduced environmental impact and improved plant economics, we are focused on developing alternative fuel solutions, like the project at Juiz de Fora, which will further augment the portfolio’s existing performance flexibility."

Following on from the initial success, the second gas turbine is now set to be retrofitted with an ethanol burner, allowing it to produce sustainable electricity on a large, commercial scale. As the world's second-largest producer of ethanol – and the biggest exporter of the gas – Brazil stands to benefit greatly from incorporating such an efficient fuel.

Ethanol has the potential to significantly reduce emissions arising from power generation, compared with the use of diesel oil or similar fossil fuels when natural gas is in short supply. So to what extent can the use of biofuels in power generation benefit an emerging nation like Brazil?

Well, sugarcane-based ethanol is thought to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by around six per cent. Specifically, this would represent a 6,500-tonne improvement to Brazil – the equivalent of 1,800 cars being taken off the country's roads.

Further to this, the amount of water used in the combustion process can be trimmed by as much as 20 million litres. Such reductions measure up to approximately the level of daily water consumption in Sao Paulo. In addition, the sugar-based biofuel removes the issue of sulphur dioxide emission completely – and reduces output of nitrous oxide by around three per cent.

There is no doubt that, with such positive outcomes so far, Brazil's apparent future as a world leader in alternative energy has the potential to provide the country with cleaner air and an overall improvement in eco-credentials.

It would be reasonable to assume, however, that the development of hi-tech industry such as this promises a number of other benefits. As a global supplier of energy, GE employs more than 85,000 worldwide – and a growing number of these workers are based in Brazil.

While the Brazilian economy is soaring way ahead of many others around the globe, boosts to employment are always going to be welcome. There also has to be some benefit to come from other countries viewing Brazil as a key player in cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly technology.

Retrieved from: www.uv10.com 

EU May Increase Imports of Brazilian Ethanol Through 2020, Adviser Says

The European Union may increase imports of Brazilian ethanol from sugarcane to meet its 2020 environmental targets because supplies of biofuels from plant waste and municipal trash are insufficient, a consultant said.

The 27-nation bloc lacks a subsidy system to promote enough production of fuels from waste, said Maelle Soares Pinto, director of the Europe and Africa unit at Hart Energy Consulting, a fuels adviser that has counted BP Plc and U.S. government agencies among its clients. Supplies will lag demand by 2015, she said today at a conference in Copenhagen.

“The EU will have to import more Brazilian ethanol,” Pinto said at the International Conference on Lignocellulosic Ethanol. The EU’s Renewable Energy Directive “doesn’t provide subsidies or tell members how to promote these biofuels.”
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The global potential of biofuels

Global biofuel and agriculture leaders met on Wednesday, December 16, at COP15 in Copenhagen to discuss how biofuels can be deployed sustainably, achieve rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fossil fuel use, and spur development.

Growth Energy Co-Chair General Wesley Clark delivered the keynote speech at the Danish Climate Consortium side-event titled “The Global Potential of Biofuels.” The event also featured a panel discussion with Novozymes CEO Steen Riisgaard and other global biofuels leaders.

“Biofuels are essential to limit CO2 emissions in the transport sector. They can readily be implemented into current infrastructure and can deliver up to 90% CO2 reductions compared to gasoline. The world cannot afford to overlook this potential,” said Steen Riisgaard.

Participants in the panel included:

- Jeff Broin, CEO, Poet, United States

- Milkyas Debebe, Managing Director, Gaia Association, Ethiopia

- Niels Henriksen, CEO, Inbicon, Denmark

- Marcos Jank, President and CEO, UNICA, Brazil

- Jian Li, Director, China National Cereal, Oil & Foodstuff Corporation (COFCO), China

- Don McCabe, International Federation of Agricultural Producers, France

- Luciano Pizzatto, Federal Deputy, Brazilian Parliament, Brazil

- Steen Riisgaard, President and CEO, Novozymes, Denmark

Watch NovozymesTV to learn more about COP15 and the global potential of biofuel.

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Getting to cellulosic

There are three main hurdles in getting to demonstration stage with cellulosic ethanol: market conditions, lack of available capital, and a concern over “unproven” technology.

• - Demand for ethanol is restricted due to the E10 “blend wall.” U.S. regulations state that, regardless of how much ethanol is produced, it cannot be blended into standard petroleum at a rate higher than 10%. There is currently more than enough ethanol produced to blend at 10%; the addition of cellulosic ethanol, without an increase in the blend wall, would mean additional surplus. The U.S. EPA is expected rule on a waiver request to increase the blend rate to 15% by the end of this year.
• - By law, any car can run on a petroleum/ethanol blend of up to 10% without engine conversion. Flex-fuel vehicles (FFV) can run on any blend of ethanol up to 85%, but while these vehicles are widely adopted in Brazil, both the number of vehicles in the U.S. and the number of E85 pumps available is still small.
• - The past year was a tough one for ethanol producers, due to low oil prices, overcapacity of ethanol, and lack of available capital – caused in large part by the economic crisis. For many, investing in developing new technology takes a confidence they haven’t had this year.
• - Cellulosic technology is still considered new, and therefore carries a higher risk. While the technology to convert cellulosic biomass to ethanol exists today, the trick is in doing it in an economically viable way. There are a lot of unknowns that add to the risk, such as how to economically collect and transport the feedstock. These are questions that will be answered over time, as investors increasingly test out how to make cellulosic ethanol plants profitable.

Novozymes has come a long way in reducing enzyme costs, but there remain other process challenges, such as successfully scaling up the technology and demonstrating a fully integrated process, which must still be overcome. Two promising demonstration plants came online in 2009, including the Abengoa plant in Salamanca, Spain, and, opening today, Inbicon’s new cellulosic bioethanol plant in Denmark, one of the world’s largest.

We look forward to an exciting 2010, as we’re on track to deliver on our cellulosic promise: a product that reduces enzyme-use costs by 50% for many of our partners’ technologies and substrates.

World’s most advanced biofuels plant opens in Denmark.

World’s largest second generation bio-ethanol plant opens for production.

See it on NovozymesTV.

Source: Cynthia Bryant, Novozymes Global Marketing Manager, Biofuels

Cellulosic bioethanol – how to pick the optimal process layout?

Novozymes has weighed the advantages and challenges of how to move forward with the development of cellulosic biofuel technology, and is setting the direction for process technology developed in our R&D labs. In absence of any commercially viable processes, Novozymes has developed a sophisticated model that allows us to see the tradeoffs through process alterations. By changing model parameters, including enzyme dose, hydrolysis time, and total solids level, we are able to accurately simulate different scenarios, including operational and capital costs – an important tool when working with partners on process optimization.

We have simulated various process designs in our model, such as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) and separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), with promising conclusions. SSF is the industry standard for starch-based bioethanol, but shows suboptimal conditions for cellulosic feedstocks. In contrast, SHF allows greater ethanol yields in a shorter time, since enzymes and yeast are able to operate under optimal conditions. Novozymes has conducted sophisticated modeling to provide insight into the process of balancing these conditions with costs; Fast Fermentation is the first concept to be developed using this insight, where enzyme hydrolysis time is extended and fermentation time is compressed. This is a potential way to make SHF work and to share the cost forecast in cellulosic conversion processes.

Undoubtedly, the industry faces challenges in moving towards commercialization of cellulosic biofuel – but exciting developments continue to move us closer to commercial viability. Novozymes’ modeling competencies enable us to understand trade-offs in process design, which in turn drives our development work with our partners. We have found that the dedicated hydrolysis separate from fermentation allows better enzyme performance and a potentially better overall process design; our Fast Fermentation concept is a promising solution for C5 & C6 sugar fermentation that could help to enable the cellulosic ethanol industry.

This information is based on a presentation given by Cynthia Bryant, Novozymes Global Marketing Manager, Biofuels, at the Next Generation Biofuels Markets conference in Amsterdam in September 2009.

Source: Novozymes

Biomass enzyme production

Novozymes is focused on delivering the enzymes needed to convert various cellulose based biomass substrates into simple sugars for further conversion into biofuels.  While Novozymes has focused efforts on significantly reducing the amount of enzymes needed, cellulosic substrates still require significantly more enzymes for effective conversion when compared to starch based substrates. The projected volumes of enzymes needed for cellulosic biomass conversion has been carefully evaluated by Novozymes when considering how to produce these enzymes; the two primary models of production considered are large “hub” facilities close to the biorefineries and “on-site” enzyme production at each biorefinery.

After careful evaluation of these two production scenarios, Novozymes has concluded that the “hub” enzyme production model will best service the future biofuels industry. This model provides economy of scale which translates to lower operational costs, as well as the ability for timely incorporation of new enzymes and process improvements into production. As enzyme and process technology improves, the amount of enzymes needed is reduced potentially making on-site enzyme plants oversized.

While there are potential benefits to on-site enzyme production, these are offset by the economy of scale benefits of running large hub facilities close to the biorefineries. Economies of scale, constant high utilization of production capacity, optimal plant management, and process as well as product implementation set-up are important when considering the big picture. These considerations are more efficient in a hub model.

Source: Christopher  Veit, Novozymes Marketing Manager, Biofuels

A closer look at the enzymes that deconstruct biomass

Novozymes’ Cellic™ enzyme products are designed to breakdown pretreated biomass into fermentable sugars.   CTec, designed for cellulose hydrolysis, is an enzyme “cocktail” — a mixture of several enzyme proteins. Why different types of enzymes, instead of just one type of enzyme for breaking down the biomass? The reason is that different classes of cellulases can exhibit synergy — that is, when combined together, the net performance of the enzyme mixture is greater than the predicted performance expected simply by summing up what each enzyme does to deconstruct biomass by itself.  Novozymes has taken advantage of enzyme synergies to create a more powerful mix of enzymes, which helps to bring down the cost of producing sugars from cellulose. 

Here are some of the major cellulase types found in CTec:

• Endoglucanases (EGs) – These are enzymes in the cocktail that break bonds between adjacent sugar molecules in a cellulose chain.  Thus, EGs fragment the cellulose chain into shorter lengths. 
• Cellobiohydrolases (CBHs) – These enzymes attack the ends of cellulose chains.  They “chew off” sugars from the cellulose ends, mainly releasing cellobiose, which is a soluble molecule, composed of two glucose molecules.  Because EGs create new “ends” for CBHs to act upon, these two classes interact synergistically.
• Beta-glucosidases (BGs) – This enzyme type breaks down very short sugar chains, such as the glucose dimer cellobiose, and releases glucose.  In addition to releasing a fermentable sugar, BGs are important because they decrease the amount of cellobiose.  The result is improved performance of the other enzymes in the mixture, because cellobiose is an especially potent inhibitor of cellulases.

In most cases, pretreated biomass feedstock contains at least some insoluble hemicellulose in addition to the insoluble cellulose.  Hemicellulose content varies depending on the type of pretreatment used, as well as the source of the plant material.  Hemicellulose can obstruct access to the cellulose, making it harder for the CTec enzymes to get to the cellulose chains.  To deal with this issue, Novozymes has a solution: HTec.  This product contains an enzyme that is especially effective at breaking down hemicellulose. Therefore, customers may see a boost in performance when including HTec in combination with CTec.

Source: Novozyme

Cellulosic Ethanol Competing Technologies

There are very many alternatives to the current gasoline and diesel based vehicle technology and it can be difficult to make an “apples-to-apples” comparison among them. The technologies that can be said to compete with the Enzymatic Cellulosic Ethanol process can be categorized in the following manner:

• Biomass consuming technologies, not producing vehicle fuel (e.g. bio-electricity, district heating)
• Alternative Vehicles (e.g. electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, natural gas vehicles)
• Non-ethanol Biomass-to-liquid technologies (e.g. Biomass gasification to Fisher-Tropsch diesel, di-methyl-ether (DME))
• Other Biomass-to-Ethanol technologies (e.g. biomass gasification to ethanol (catalytic), strong acid hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation)

These competing technologies are very different and in many cases, they are not mutually exclusive, or at least, they could with great benefit co-exist in a long period of slow transformation and continued technology improvement. Also it will vary from region to region, which technology is preferable. Bio-electricity runs most efficiently on low-ash feedstock, such as wood and in areas with district heating. Electric vehicles would be expected to find their niche in urban areas and possibly expand into other areas when the technology eventually proves ready for longer ranges. Biomass gasification processes, if they become viable, would be expected to have a preference for low ash biomass and for being built to handle large capacity plant scales, meaning that a location in a forest area would be ideal. We cannot exclude that any of these technologies may get their share of the future biomass and fuel market, but we do, no matter what, feel convinced that the enzymatic cellulosic ethanol process, will be a technology, which most economically can convert a large share of the available biomass to automotive fuel for the following reasons:

• Ethanol is proven and a reliable energy carrier for automotive vehicles in Brazil, the United States and elsewhere. Plus, cellulosic ethanol can adapt into these markets without any bridging cost
• Ethanol technology is the largest and most proven biofuel, however, it is still in the development stage when it comes to application potential. Together with an additive, ethanol is now used in heavy-duty diesel engines in 900 Swedish buses, and could one day be an ideal energy carrier for fuel cells
• Cellulosic ethanol is a radical game-changing technology, but the basis for the technology draws upon valuable experience from related industries. These industries include: starch based ethanol, biomass heat and power processes, anaerobic digestion, and pulp and paper. Because it pulls from more established technologies, this limits the technology novelty of cellulosic ethanol to be mainly around the biomass pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis part.
• Auto-sufficiency in heat and power from combustion of un-converted material and possible electricity export contributes to making the process economical and CO2-emission neutral
• Unlike several of the biomass consuming competitors the enzymatic cellulosic ethanol process operates at least as well on high ash containing and wet biomass residues, such as corn stover and grasses. Plus it has no preference for more costly wood
• Ethanol is an attractive building block for many chemicals, not just transport fuel. Due to the versatility of ethanol, it has the potential to be the building block of a whole new economy, the biobased economy.

Source: Novozyme

Bioethanol, a UK first from British Sugar

As one of the UK’s leading agriprocessors with an interest in innovative new technology, British Sugar began production of Bioethanol in September 2007 making it the first company to manufacture Bioethanol in the UK. 

British Sugar is able to supply Bioethanol with full traceability including a full life cycle analysis. This is necessary to demonstrate that the whole process of production, including crop growing, fermentation and distribution, is carried out in such a way that genuine environmental benefits are delivered.

About Bioethanol

Bioethanol is made using yeast fermentation followed by distillation. It can be mixed with petrol at up to 5% inclusion and used in cars running on ordinary unleaded petrol.

Crops

In the UK, Bioethanol can be economically produced by the fermentation of sugar beet or wheat. In our Wissington refinery, we produce Bioethanol from sugar beet which is supplied under contract by existing growers.

Producing up to 55,000 tonnes (70 million litres) of Bioethanol every year, the refinery uses around 110,000 tonnes of sugar. This is equivalent to 650,000 tonnes of sugar beet. Beet supplied to British Sugar for Bioethanol manufacture is grown on existing farm land.

Production

Bioethanol is produced by the fermentation of sugars followed by distillation to produce a pure alcohol.

Fossil fuels are used in the production process but every effort is made to optimise fuel efficiency.  British Sugar has embraced a system called Combined Heat & Power (CHP), recognised as one of the most fuel-efficient processes available.  About 80% of the energy in the fuel is employed in the sugar manufacturing process. As a result of the close integration with the sugar factory we have been able to demonstrate GHG emissions savings of over 70% when compared to petrol.

Fuel

In the UK, Bioethanol can be added to standard unleaded petrol at levels up to 5% and used in any car on the road today. In the Energy Act 2004, the UK Government provided for the enactment of a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). This mechanism is very similar to the Renewables Obligation operating in the electricity sector. The obligation was introduced in April 2008 with an obligation of 2.5% biofuels in 2008-2009 and 3.75% in 2009-2010, reaching 5% for 2010-2011.

Cars

A blend of up to 5% Bioethanol can be used in any unleaded car on the road in the UK today. In the longer term, there is potential for ordinary cars to use higher blends. Some car manufacturers have already developed engines to operate on blends of up to 85% Bioethanol known as E85.

Retrieved from: British Sugar

Bioethanol Q&A

How much heat does a biofireplace loose?

While in traditional fireplaces 60% of heat is lost up the chimney, in biofireplaces 100% of heat energy from burning biofuel remains in the room - thus no heat is lost. Similar to a biofireplace, 100% of heat energy from biofuel burning in a glass fire remains in the room.

For a 2- 5 hour period how much bioethanol fuel would I use relative to a 300kw radiator?

Depending on the flame head setting (adjustment), 1 litre of biofuel is consumed in 2-5 hours and replaces a 3000W radiator.

Compared to my traditional heating, how long do biofireplaces and glass fires have to be burning to feel a significant increase in room temperature?

Biofireplaces provide a perfect supplement to traditional heating. Within just a few minutes of lighting you can feel a considerable increase in your room temperature. Like a biofireplace, a glass fire is an efficient source of heat, and although it certainly does not replace the heating system, it may serve as its supplementation in transitory periods such as spring and autumn. If a glass fire is placed in a small room (e.g. a bathroom), a few minutes is enough to make the room warmer.

Will burning a biofireplace or glass fire cause the air in the room to dry out?

Ordinary sources of heat such as radiators or electric heaters usually dry out the air. When burning biofireplaces and glass fires, steam is emitted which increases relative humidity.

Is it possible for me to use a biofireplace or glass fire for aromatherapy?

Special structure of the product makes it possible to insert dishes containing aromatherapy preparations. Having reached optimum temperature, steam particles combine with an active substance in the preparation and are subsequently inhaled. Owing to the process of free convection, heated and humidified air filled with the preparation is equally distributed throughout the entire room. The convection makes it possible to undergo aromatherapy during work, meetings with friends, or relaxation.

How safe is the fuel?

Having been thoroughly tested, the fuel received the approval of specialists from the Environmental Toxicology Department of the National Institute of Hygiene in regard to its safety for people and the environment, and with reservation of use in accordance with designation, label instructions and the operations manual.

Is bioethanol a renewable source of energy?

Bioethanol fuel is a biologically clean product of plant origin, which has undergone rectification three times. It constitutes a wholly renewable source of energy.

Is smoke emitted during burning?

Neither smell nor smoke is emitted during burning. As a result of burning, steam and CO2 remain in the air in proportions similar to those contained in the air exhaled by humans. No undesired side-effects such as smoke, ash or solid remains.

How do I find out about the burning conditions that are required?

Burning conditions have been specified in the fireplace safe operations manual.

Is room ventilation required where the biofireplace or glass fire is burning?

Burning in biofireplaces, as with all open fires, requires a regular provision of air (room ventilation system in a good working condition). However, unlike traditional fireplaces a chimney or external wall exit is not required. In apartment conditions with small cubic capacity a slightly opened window will do.

Retrieved from: Kedco