Trend in Palm-based Biodiesel Fuel Research in Malaysia and Indonesia

Abstract

Biodiesel Fuel (BDF), fatty acid methyl ester, is receiving widespread attention for its renewability and carbon neutral property. might be one solution for global environmental problems such as global warming and exhaustion of fossil fuel resources, The material oil of BDF differs in regions, palm oil will be chosen for BDF production in Southeast Asia. This time, we visited oil palm and palm oil research institutes and universities in Malaysia and Indonesia that are the largest and second largest country in palm oil production. Progress in palm-based BDF research and present state of palm oil industry were investigated, and economic feasibility of palm-based BDF in Southeast Asia was estimated. In the present state, BDF is not cost-competitive in Southeast Asia; breakthroughs in BDF production technology and dissemination policy are necessary for spread of BDF use there. Development of effective utilization of oil palm biornass such as empty fruit bunches turned out to be an important issue to be studied simultaneously.