The use of oil palm biomass, in particular empty fruit bunch (EFB) as a source of renewable energy (RE) provides an alternative long-term approach in reducing dependency on fossil fuel and environmental impact. Raw EFB is abundant in palm oil mills. It is known for its high moisture content (>65%) and bulky, leading to low energy content, thus contributing to logistics, storage and handling problems. This has limited its potential use for direct energy applications. Pelletisation is one of the solutions to improve its physical characteristics for value-added applications. However, this process faces challenges such as high ash content and is energy intensive.

Researcher: Nasrin Abu Bakar
Email: nasrin@mpob.gov.my