Agriculture and Environment: Palm Oil

Better Management Practices: Encourage Use of Renewables

When solid wastes from processing palm oil cannot be recycled back to the fields, they can be burned as a source of energy to reduce the amount of non-renewable energy sources imported to plantations and mills.

Solar power & biomass
In addition, solar power or biomass should be explored in lieu of importing fuels from off of the plantations. Whether such alternatives are acceptable often depends on the cost of fuel.

Biomass and effluent ponds produce methane, a very potent greenhouse gas, which should be captured and used as a fuel rather than released into the atmosphere.

Putting methane to use
While methane often is not cost-effective as a substitute for diesel within the plantation operation itself, it can substitute for natural gas, especially when bought in small quantities by workers and used for cooking.