Need for more R&D to promote palm bio-diesel

Rainforests resolution that it passed on April 4.

It is in this environment that there should be increased research and development to promote palm bio-diesel, not just as a sustainable “green” fuel from roundtable producers of palm oil, but also as a fuel that lowers pollutants and particulate matter.

While it is a fact that biodiesel offers cleaner combustion, better lubricity and contains lower particulate matter (soot) than mineral diesel, there are also other challenges.

For instance, researchers (Jeeya Jeevahan: Various strategies for reducing Nox emissions of bio-diesel fuel used in conventional diesel engines: A review), have discussed that biodiesel produces more nitrogen oxide or NOx. This is one of the more carcinogenic pollutants in emissions from diesel engines.

Conversely, it’s also true that palm bio-diesel produces less NOx than say, canola oil and soy oil – two of the more popular biodiesels in Europe and the US.

There are two challenges to face.

Palm oil producers should intensify their jointcollaboration on research and development of palm bio-diesel.

Indonesia and Malaysia are the world’s top two largest producer of palm oil and both of them already have a collaboration at the ministerial level.

Now, they must bring it to the next level and jointly work in partnership with European engine makers and European R&D facilities to win greater acceptance of palm bio-diesel at the B7 level rather than stressing out on the B10 level, which is not acceptable to some European engine makers.

Malaysia’s B10 policy effectively mandates the use of 10% palm bio-diesel mixed into fossil diesel and is one of the measures the government has initiated to support the palm oil industry. At present, all land transport diesel sold has a 7% palm oil content and is called B7. The government is looking at increasing the blend to B10 this year largely as a price support measure for farmers.

In Indonesia, the government has taken an aggressive approach and is now adopting a B20 policy.

About 80% of global energy comes from burning fossil fuels and 13.8% of the world’s primary energy supply comes from renewable energy.

Liquid bio-fuels constitute only 4.1% in the renewable energy portion and grew at 10.4% from 1990 to 2014 compared with solar photovoltaic at 46.2%.