Potential of Deploying Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB) for Biomass Cofiring in Malaysia’s Largest Coal Power Plant

Abstract

In support of energy sector decarbonisation, this work investigated the potential of cofiring biomass in the largest operating coal power plant in Malaysia, Stesen Janakuasa Sultan Azlan Shah (SJSAS). Empty fruit bunch (EFB), a palm oil mill residue in the form of biomass pellet has been identified as the promising feedstock for this purpose. The EFB pellets will be sourced from 25 palm oil mills within 100 km distance surrounding SJSAS. Collectively, they have the potential to supply 538,478 metric ton of pellets annually to the power plant. This amount would account to a thermal substitution of 4.3%, with a potential net reduction of 1,175,151 metric ton of CO2 emission. The average cost of EFB pellets per metric ton was estimated to be RM 295.64, 1% slightly higher than the current price of coal. This work concludes that biomass cofiring is instrumental in the low carbon transition plan of electricity supply industry in Malaysia.