EFB Pellet to Replace Wood Pellet?

EFB Pellet is not a new biomass product available in the market. It has been promote in the market to act as another alternative of biomass commodity. Unfortunately EFB pellet still not widely accept by most buyer.

In this article, we will review the basic differences for EFB pellet vs. wood pellet. Further more, we will share some of our expereince and thought why we think EFB pellet should gain high potential in renewable energy sector.

EFB Pellet or Wood Pellet?

DST has been in renewable energy sector for several years, we know the strength and potential of biomass commodity in available in Malaysia especially Malaysia government had launched 1MBAS project not long ago. The country is looking at biomass to generate 30million Ringgit in year 2020. Through our pass experience, we receive more inquiry about wood pellet instead of EFB pellet, why this happen?

Wood pellet has been in the biomass market for many years, especially Korea and Japan biomass sector has accepted wood pellet in their power plant. EFB pellet was initially invented acting as a substitution of wood pellet. Since we talk about substitution, we have compare both commodities from several aspects, such as pricing, specification, reliability and sustainability.

In order to turn EFB firbe into EFB pellet, the pellet manufacturer has to setup a pelletize process which mainly cover these steps:

De-humidified
Drying
Cutting into size or grinding
Pelletize

The process is pretty straight forward however involve substantial amount of energy. This has make the EFB pellet cost maintain at higher level as compare to wood pellet. Another draw back for EFB pellet is high ash content as compare to Wood Pellet.

Is EFB Facility Over Size?

We have involved in EFB pellet and other biomass commodity for more than 10 years, we are seeing the progress for this industry. From our perspective, many pellet manufacturers no matter in Malaysia or Indonasia are over optimistic about this commodity.

We learn through out the manufacturing process which we are very clear about the process challenge. Pelletize EFB fibre are totally difference than pelletize saw dust. We got to have the appropriate process setup in order to manufacture a quality product.

Over optimistic about the EFB pellet has cause many pellet manufacturers invested in the industry, but at the end find out insufficient customer order to maintain the operation. I feel sad while I am putting up this statement but this is the fact.

What is the Potential for EFB Pellet?

Pelletize EFB fibre is a matual technology and what we lack off is the marketing part. Many people still consider EFB pellet as a commodity for biomass. As EFB pellet manufacturer, we have to broaden our perspective or even strectch out our sense if we want to elevate the potential of EFB pellet.

Besides the manufacturer, Malaysia government should play an important role on promoting EFB Pellet in the world. Malaysia government has setup a department, NBS, National Biomass Strategy to chair the biomass activities. We really hope this department could bring our EFB pellet to worldwide.

If we always limited ourselves on replacing wood pellet with EFB pellet, I think this is a lose game for EFB pellet. EFB pellet should have wider and broader potential if we are able to adopt this commodity in other application.

August 22, 2014

Overview of Biomass in Malaysia

While we are moving toward urbanization and looking for better living standard, this has lead the increasing demand in energy. This also apply to Malaysia. In order to fulfill the energy gap, Malaysia government has come out several counter measures to encourage the use of renewable energy, this include biomass energy. Biomass in Malaysia has recorded growth since pass few years, and the increasing trend is still continue.

Biomass and bioenergy are seeing considerable growth in years as general public and policy maker aware the inherent advantages of clean and green energy. Among the renewable energy, biomass energy is one of the low cost per MW among other renewable energy source..

Why Malaysia Committed in Biomass Renewable Energy?

Biomass in Malaysia is referring to plant waste being converted to energy. There are many ways for applying the biomass waste as renewable energy, now we are seeing more choices with better efficiency and effectiveness. Pelletizing is one of the process converting the biomass into more efficient pellet, such as efb pellet and saw dust pellet.

Target increase of biomass energy in South-East Asia

In overall Sourth-East Asia, there are about 15% of electrical energy was derived from biomass, and we targeted the figure should rise to 25% by the year of 2020. The same trend also apply to Malaysia.

Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Phillipine and Indonesia are expanding their biomass development in it own country. Thailand is the South-East Asia country having the largest renewable energy derive from biomass energy. However biomass energy in Malaysia also project increase substantially for next 10 years.

Biomass Prospect in Malaysia

The raw material of biomass in Malaysia could always refer to oil palm waste, sugar cane, peddy husk and wood-chip. Oil palm waste in Malaysia is the largest contribution among those biomass. Due to large availability and various form of biomass material in Malaysia, this has promote Malaysia having a good platform to develop it biomass industry.

Malaysia pellet manufacturer has gained more attention in worldwide biomass market. The resourceful of biomass commodity, technology and government incentive scheme has make the country has more export in pellet.

Biomass Target in Malaysia

For year 2010, the renewable energy in Malaysia achieve 510MW, and biomass energy contribute 470MW of energy. This has shown that the country is heavily relly on biomass for renewable energy. In year 2030, the biomass energy in Malaysia will increase to 1525MW.

DST as one of the biomass supplier in Malaysia, we have taken the opportunity to expand our biomass production line from raw biomass material into pelletize biomass product. We are very confident customer could select suitable biomass commodity from our comprehensive product line.

We also committed to work with our customer to provide high quality biomass commodity.

February 24, 2013

Latest EFB Briquette

DST has committed in renewable energy sector at Malaysia, we has set our target to provide more

choices for biomass energy resources to local and worldwide market. We have heavily involved in supplying of EFB pellet, saw dust pellet and biomass palm briquette. On the other hand, we do study with the customer need in order to supply more choices of biomass products for the market. 25mm diameter of EFB briquette is one of our latest biomass energy resources.

Revolution of EFB Briquette

Briquette referring to larger diameter biomass commodity whereby pellet is always refer to small size such as below 10mm diameter.

Large EFB Palm Briquette.

The original palm briquette is manufacturing into 70-80mm diameter. Through practical application, we notice many of the briquette being wasted as incomplete combustion happened in the biomass chamber.

Hollow Type EFB Palm Briquette.

The dense inner part is the area always is hard in combustion because of insufficient air flow. In order to improve the situation, pressed machine has been re-design whereby the briquette comes with an hollow ID. The hollow type of EFB briquette does help the improve of combustion.

Smaller size EFB palm briquette.

25mm diameter is one of the smaller size briquette. EFB palm fibre length has been studied and calculated before the 25mm diameter being determined. The 25mm EFB palm briquette is one of the optimum briquetting process which able to maintain smoother briquetting process.

Why 25mm EFB Briquette?

The 25mm EFB briquette is developed with a few objectives:

Suitable to most biomass input grating system.

The smaller of briquette is definitely more forgiving while coming to biomass boiler input grate system. Most of the industrial biomass boiler is able adapting to this new size.

Optimum in briquetting process.

25mm is the balance between briquette manufacturer and user. The dry EFB fibre can pressed into EFB briquette with only shredded process.

Energy retention in combustion process.

The briquette is able to retain heat during the combustion process while also ensure complete combustion, waste of incomplete briquette is minimize.

Who needs 25mm EFB Briquette?

EFB briquette or palm briquette is always a good energy source for biomass power plant. The existing biomass plant who using larger briquette can easily converted to 25mm diameter EFB briquette without any changing in process.

Biomass boiler who currently using palm kernel shell, shredded EFB fibre or pellet are suitable for this EFB briquette.

We welcome any inquiry about this 25mm diameter EFB briquette.

February 15, 2013

Biomass Glossary

Anaerobic digestion: Degradation of organic matter by microbes in the absence of oxygen to produce methane and carbon dioxide

Bagasse: Residue remaining after extracting a sugar-containing juice from plants like sugar cane

Biodiesel: A biodegradable transportation fuel for use in diesel engines. Biodiesel is produced through the transesterification of organically-derived oils or fats. It may be used either as a replacement for or as a component of diesel fuel.

Bioenergy: The production, conversion, and use of material directly or indirectly produced by photosynthesis (including organic waste) to manufacture fuels and substitutes for petrochemical and other energy-intensive products.

Biofuels: Biofuels: Liquid fuels and blending components produced from biomass feedstocks, used primarily for transportation. Biomass converted to liquid or gaseous fuels such as ethanol, methanol, methane, and hydrogen.

Biogas: A gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and methane produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic matter.

Biomass: Biomass is any organic matter including forest and mill residues, agricultural crops and wastes, wood and wood wastes, animal wastes, livestock operation residues, aquatic plants, and municipal and industrial wastes

Capacity – The power/products that a machine or system can produce or generate safely.

Effluent: The liquid or gas discharged from a process or chemical reactor, usually containing residues from that process.

Feedstock: Raw material used for the generation of bioenergy and the creation of other bioproducts.

Gasification: A chemical or heat process to convert a solid fuel to a gaseous form

Grid: An electric utility company’s system for distributing power,

-Grid connection – Joining a plant that generates electric power to a utility system so that electricity can flow in either direction between the utility system and the plant.

Kilowatt: A measure of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts. 1 kW = 3412 Btu/hr

Landfill gas: Biogas produced from the natural degradation of organic material in landfills

Municipal solid waste: Residential solid waste and some nonhazardous commercial, institutional, and industrial wastes

Pyrolysis: The thermal decomposition of biomass at high temperatures (greater than 400° F, or 200° C) in the absence of air. The end product of pyrolysis is a mixture of solids (char), liquids (oxygenated oils), and gases (methane, carbon monoxide, and carbondioxide) with proportions determined by operating temperature, pressure, oxygen content, and other conditions

Residues, Biomass: Byproducts that have significant energy or products potential from processing all forms of biomass.

Thermochemical conversion: The use of heat to change substances chemically to produce energy products

Transesterification: A chemical process which reacts an alcohol with the triglycerides contained in vegetable oils and animal fats to produce biodiesel and glycerin

Waste transfer stations: Facilities where municipal solid waste is unloaded from collection vehicles and briefly held while it is reloaded onto larger long-distance transport vehicles for shipment to landfills or other treatment or disposal facilities

February 13, 2013

Palm Pellet Choices

There are many variety of palm pellet available in biomass market, namely EFB pellet, Mesocarp pellet, oil palm tree trunk pellet. Among all, EFB pellet is widely known in the market. Apart from the palm pellet, there is also palm briquette.

The differences of Palm Pellet

The main difference for various type of palm pellet is named after difference raw material used.

EFB Pellet.

The raw material for EFB pellet is empty fruit bunch discarded from crude palm oil mill.

Mesocarp pellet.

Mesocarp is not a commonly know term by majority. Mesocarp fibre stands for the fibre from the oil palm fruit. This is a short fibre.

Trunk pellet.

The raw material is oil palm tree trunk after demolish from the oil palm estate. In ordinary condition, oil palm estate will carry out re-planting after the oil palm tree reach 20 years, the demolish palm tree trunk can also send to pelleting factory for doing trunk pellet.

Palm Pellet Pelleting Process

Regardless any oil palm waste material, the waste will go through series a comprehensive pelleting process in order to manufacture quality pellet product. The pelleting process could be simplified to crushing, drying, pelleting, cooling and packing. For details elaboration, please refer to palm pellet pelleting process.

Why Malaysia becomes Famous Palm Pellet Manufacturer

Malaysia is a country with rich of oil palm product. EFB contribute the major portion of overall oil palm waste. There is 20 million ton of EFB available in Malaysia, most of the abundance EFB being used as raw biomass material or retrieving long fibre for mattress or fibre board.

Due to the constrain and increase in fossil fuel price, we are seeing the needs for converting EFB into palm pellet. Palm pellet is a more efficient heating energy compare to raw EFB. There are several well establish palm pellet manufacturer in Malaysia and we estimate 1 million ton of palm pellet per year suppling to the market.

Apart from the raw material availability, technical and R&D are another 2 major factors making Malaysia a palm pellet manufacturer in this district. Malaysia government or MPOB has invested substantial amount every year in researching and developing new application.

Oil palm waste has becomes an importance biomass commodity and it derivative product such as EFB fibre, palm pellet, palm briquette will more suitable for oversea market. Palm fibre contribute a huge portion of biomass energy in Malaysia.

DST is supplying biomass commodity such as palm pellet, efb pellet, palm briquette and palm kernel shell to worldwide market. We welcome any enquiry about your biomass needs.

February 7, 2013

Biomass Energy Resource from Malaysia

Even though Malaysia is a fossil fuel export country, but this does not stop the country from committing in developing renewable energy. Malaysia is a country rich in biomass energy resource, many materials can easily convert to biomass.

There are several common biomass renewable energy in Malaysia, such as palm pellet, EFB pellet, EFB, palm kernel shell, wood chip and saw dust pellet. In this article, we will discuss slightly more about the prospect for each biomass energy resource in Malaysia.

Biomass Energy Resources in Malaysia

EFB

EFB stands for empty fruit bunch discarded from palm oil mill. The EFB will go through pressed and shredded process before it can be used as biomass power plant. The shredded efb will always high in moisture and not favourable for shipping.

Palm kernel shell

Or in abbreviation PKS. The palm kernel shell is a good biomass resource with high calorific value, low moisture and easy transportation and handling. Unfortunately the supply of palm kernel shell is saturated. A large portion of palm kernel shell has been used at local Malaysia market.

Mesocarp Fibre

This short and dry fibre is favourable in biomass for heat retrieve, however the volume is small and unable to support the biomass industry.

Rice Hust

This is the husk salvage from rice mill. The rice husk is light and having high silica content. Not very suitable for biomass. Perhaps the light weight also not favourable for biomass boiler.

Coconut fibre

Most of the coconut plantation in Malaysia has been converted to oil palm estate, hence the coconut fibre is shrinking from year to year. It left very limited coconut fibre available in the market. Coconut fibre has not been used as biomass purpose.

Wood chip

Malaysia is a country cover with wood lodge. The left over wood will send to crushing process for chopping it into chip form. Wood chip is a renewable energy commodity however the re-planting is taking longer time before the tree mature. The wood chip volume is at decreasing stage meanwhile price is getting higher.

Wood pellet

The raw material of wood pellet is saw dust, so it also name as saw dust pellet. Wood pellet is resemble as wood chip. It provides similar heating effect and function as wood chip. However the price of wood pellet is getting higher.

EFB pellet

This is the new pellet product manufacturer at Malaysia. The shredded EFB will go through EFB pelletize process for making EFB pellet. EFB pellet consider relatively new as the biomass commodity for biomass market. Due to it availability, we foresee EFB pellet will become one of the major biomass energy choices in the market.

Malaysia is the country rich in tree and many others agriculture commodities, many commodities has been widely used as the biomass energy resources in Malaysia. Oil palm is one of the larger agriculture products and many researches / application has developed for converting the by-product of palm oil waste into biomass commodity. The prospect of oil palm related biomass energy resource is bright as it has becomes major sustainable energy in Malaysia and world wide market,

January 28, 2013

Malaysia Pellet Supplier

Biofuel Resource is a Pellet Supplier from Malaysia

There are many pellet manufacturers and supplier in the world, this include Malaysia. Malaysia is a country with resourceful of renewable energy commodity, such as EFB fibre, saw dust, straw, rice husk and wood chip. This has make Malaysia a source of pellet supplier.

Empty fruit bunch or EFB has only be used as Malaysia local biomass commodity but not favourable for exporting market. This is because this EFB is high condensated product and not favourable for exporting and also heat generating is low. The pelletize process be able to convert the EFB into EFB pellet. Perhaps, the pelletize machine also can convert saw dust into valued pellet commodity.

Why Malaysia famous as Pellet Supplier

There are many pellet suppliers in the world, every company deal within their talent and capability for the region. If you are looking for EFB pellet, or palm fibre biomass briquette Malaysia is one of the best pellet manufacturer and supplier for world wide market.

EFB pellet is making from the source of EFB. Malaysia is the country with sufficient EFB volume in order to support the market demand. Many EFB pellet manufacturer is setting up in Malaysia for supplying pellet to biomass industry.

The electric tariff and management quality awareness also another good reason Malaysia will becomes the good pellet manaufacturer.

DST, The Pellet Supplier from Malaysia

DST is one of the pellet supplier from Malaysia. Currently we have EFB pellet and saw dust pellet or wood pellet supply to the market. Due to the high demand of pellet commodity product, DST has ong relation with several famous oil palm mill around the country in order to secure the EFB. We also having several contracts as acquire the source of saw dust.

DST is resourceful in supplying EFB pellet and saw dust pellet for domestic and overseas market. Feel free to contact DST and understand more about our pellet product manufacture from Malaysia.

The Demand of Biomass Pellet in Malaysia

Due to the shortage and constraint for fossil fuel and coal, pellet has become an ideal energy alternative for biomass power plant. Many countries already involved in manufacture and supplying pellet for market.

Pellet has been introduced to the market for several years, and recently Korea and Japan has enforced in green gas discharge. Pellet is having the nature of fulfill green emitted gas or no fume discharge during burning processes. Many pellets supplier from Malaysia has shipped to Japan and Korea market.

There are also others pellet supplier from Malaysia apart from DST, you are welcome to check with any one of them to understand more about the pellet quality, EFB pellet price and delivery arrangement.

January 21, 2013January 24, 2013

Well Know EFB Pellet Manufacturer in Malaysia

Empty fruit bunch or EFB is one of the common biomass commodity in Malaysia.

Turning EFB fibre into EFB pellet is getting many manufactures’ attention in Malaysia. There are more and more EFB pellet manufacturers in Malaysia as we are seeing the demand of this EFB pellet is increasing.

Air pollution is one of the severe topic that affecting human living nature. The latest claim from China is about the terms of Beijing Cough. Basically this terms imply that China is facing severe challenge on airborne contamination. Reducing the particulate discharge to the air is one of the direction for improving the air quality.

EFB pellet can be used to replace coal for heating purpose. EFB pellet not only deliver high heat energy but also reduce the particulate discharge to the air. Please read EFB pellet general introduction.

Why Malaysia is Popular in EFB Pellet Manufacture

EFB fibre is the raw material for EFB pellet. Oil palm industry is the main argriculture crops in Malaysia, many plantation has been converted to oil palm estate. EFB is one of the discarded product from crude palm oil mail, EFB contribute 20% out from a fresh FFB.

For an ordinary crude palm oil mill, every hour there will be 15MT of EFB being discarded after crushing for palm oil. The EFB will go through EFB palletizing process for manufacturing become EFB pellet. Because of the large volume of EFB, this has make Malaysia becomes an EFB pellet manufacturer.

Other Factor Becoming EFB Pellet Manufacturer in Malaysia

Apart from EFB fibre, the electric tariff also another factor that make Malaysia suitable for EFB pellet manufacture.

The EFB pellet machine basically is using mechanical force to compress efb fibre become pellet, this process requires electric to make the motor turn. Hence, electric tariff contribute a major portion of EFB pellet cost, since Malaysia maintain a low electric tariff, this make Malaysia having the advantages for setting up pelletize process.

Contact DST, the EFB Pellet Manufacturer in Malaysia

There is an increasing efb pellet manufacturer in Malaysia, and DST is one of the pioneer on efb pellet manufacturer in Malaysia. We supply the EFB pellet and saw dust pellet to world wide market.

There are several reasons that makes DST is one of the key EFB pellet manufacturer in Malaysia,

Steady supply of EFB fibre.

Own logistic team for transporting the EFB pellet effectively and efficiently.

High performance pelleting machine setup.

Skill and knowledgable employee.

As a EFB pellet manufacturer and supplier in Malaysia, we are looking forward Malaysia will becomes one of the key exporters of EFB pellet for biomass power plant. Please kindly write to DST for understand more about our pellet products.

August 20, 2012December 16, 2012

EFB Pelletization Process

Biofuel pellet is increasing it demand and application. In order to cope with the increase demand, many raw feed stock materials have explored becoming biomass pellet. In this article, we are elaborating the pelletization process by using EFB pellet as an example to reader who is interested to understand this process.

1. Preparation Before Pelleting

The shredded EFB fibre is the raw material from palm oil factory. The shredded EFB fibre may reach up to 200mm in length. The long length of EFB Fibre is not suitable for pelletization process.

The first step of pelletization process is grinding. The shredded EFB pellet will go through the grinding process to grind to shorter length, in most cases, the grinded length should reach 3mm or shorter.

2. Drying the Grinded Fibre

Due to the nature of Shredded EFB fibre, the grinded fibre also consist high moisture content, around 50-60%. The grinded fibre will send for drying to the suitable moisture level.

The moisture content is the important parameter for pelletization process. The Grinded EFB fibre need to maintain 10-15% moisture level in order to produce quality pellet.

3. Pelleting process

The dry fibre will send for pelleting machine. There are not additional binder adds requires during pelleting process.

The EFB pellet is in dense form, hard surface and high temperature right after extruded from the pelleting machine.

4. Pellet Cooler Machine

The hot EFB pellet will transfer to the cooler for removing the surface temperature, the hot heat will be absorb and discharge.

From machinery design, the hot air removing from the post extruded pellet will send for drying purpose.

5. Pellet Packing Mechanism

The EFB pellet will send to packaging. In our case, the EFB pellet is packed under jumbo bag form. Every jumbo bag weight around 800kg, this is mainly for easy handling purpose.

EFB Pelletization process is a simple, it mainly contributes by 5 major processes, namely 1) Grinding; 2) Drying; 3) Pelleting; 4) Cooling; 5) Packaging. However manufacturer needs to wisely control the process in order to deliver quality product.

A quality EFB pellet is hard in surface, not easy broken, smooth and shinny surface. Kindly contact DST Technology for any interested in EFB pellet.