@ green | November-December , 2021

Expensive technology remains a challenge in biogas production

Ir Nurul Huda Mat Nor

Datuk Khairuddin Tan Sri Mohd Hussin

Dato Ir . Dr Ali Askar

Fabian Fernandez

Dr Surina Ismail

Like any other renewable energy , biomass and biogas can further enhance Malaysia ’ s energy transition . A proper discussion on this issue is critical so that no resources are going to waste .

Clean Power New Energy 2021 held a discussion titled ‘ Preventing green energy source going to waste ’ to discuss significant efforts necessary to scale up the production of this untapped alternative source .

The session was moderated by Ir Nurul Huda Mat Nor , President of Malaysian Environmental Professional Practitioner Society ( MEPS ) and featured Datuk Khairuddin Tan Sri Mohd Hussin , Managing Director at Concord Green Energy , Dato Ir . Dr Ali Askar , Managing Director at Sher Engineering & Consultancy , Fabian Fernandez , Head of Engineering & Sustainability at United Malacca Berhad and Dr Surina Ismail , Group Head Sustainability at IOI Corporation Bhd .

According to Surina , circularity is essential in reducing the corporation ’ s GHG emissions . In dealing with climate change , she revealed that IOI Corporation looked into circularity , environmentally-friendly technologies and natural biodiversity protection .

“ Looking into circularity , the methane that is emitted from our palm oil mill effluent ( POME ) is something that we look at very strictly ,” said Surina .

“ We found that capturing methane from the POME is one of the best ways for us to reduce our GHG emissions .

“ What we wanted to do was to utilise methane that we captured to run our mills and estates , and we have been relatively successful .”

High cost of technology

Surina shared the company started its methane capture or biogas system three years ago . Still , it took some time for the company to calibrate the conversion of the methane to run its mills efficiently .

She then said the technology required to deal with the excess of IOI Corporation ’ s biogas was very expensive .

“ For example , we could go into the grid or contribute to TNB . But the issue is cost ,” Surina explained , adding the current method used by the corporation to extract biogas was not 100 per cent efficient , and feedback was required from other industries to make this project more efficient .

Fernandez agreed that cost was a significant challenge in this issue .

However , he opined : “ Instead of talking about how we are going to manage this biogas , my question would be , why do you want to create the biogas in the first place ? There is a technology to avoid

Looking into circularity , the methane that is emitted from our palm oil mill effluent ( POME ) is something that we look at very strictly . We found that capturing methane from the POME is one of the best ways for us to reduce our GHG emissions . What we wanted to do was to utilise methane that we captured to run our mills and estates , and we have been relatively successful .”

– Dr Surina Ismail it outright .”

In becoming a biogas developer , Khairuddin emphasised the importance of proper feasibility studies , suitable project partners and technologies . He also shared that the government had provided many incentives for biogas projects .

Having a fair share of experience working in SEDA Malaysia , Ali also shared that the government was open to discussing biogas development .

“ You need to have the technology and the design out front . For example , I would say for biogas plants now , many of the technologies are already localised ,” said Khairuddin ..

“ In that sense , over the last six to seven years , many of the biogas players in Malaysia have managed to localise a lot of the technology . Except for maybe one or two things we still have to buy from overseas because at the end of the day , you need to have reliability over the 21 years .

“ You have to have friendly bankers that can support you because they will not give hundred per cent financing . Most probably , they ’ ll give maybe 70 to 80 per cent financing . The rest you have to invest on your own .”

Addressing the methane avoidance , Surina then said : “ We have looked at methane avoidance . Methane avoidance might be sufficient for small mills with less than 30,000 tonnes .

“ Bigger mills might be a little bit difficult . Because of the amount of EFB you have and the amount of POBE ( palm oil bleaching extract ) you generate , it is not viable .

“ What I ’ m suggesting is that maybe there should be a mixture of methane avoidance for the smaller mills and methane capture for the more extensive mills .

“ Otherwise , the amount of POME that you generate , the technology is not there for that kind of practice .” — @ Green