Reducing methane emissions from palm oil effluent by 80%: report

In Indonesia, a study by LEI and Alterra, both part of Wageningen UR, found that Investing in capture of methane emissions from palm oil effluent (POME) will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, improve the economic return of the palm oil mill, and increase the net income of smallholder fresh fruit bunch (FFB) producers and middlemen.

Looking at the Palm Pro mill in Indonesia, the study’s authors found that the deployment would lead to a 8.4% (214 euro per year) income gain for smallholder Fresh Fruit Bunch producers and a yearly financial injection of 342,000 euro into the region in which the mill operates.

The increase in demand for FFB from the mill is not expected to lead to new plantations as sufficient feedstock will be available when the mill operates in full capacity. The captured methane is used for power generation.

The full report can be downloaded here.