Palm biodiesel is an alternative fuel derived from palm oil that can be used in compression ignition engines, i.e., diesel engines, without modification. It is methyl esters derived from palm oil through a process known as “transesterification.” According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, replacing fossil fuels with biofuels – fuels made from renewable organic material – has the potential to reduce some undesirable aspects of fossil fuel production and use, including conventional pollutant emissions and greenhouse gasses (GHGs) and resource depletion. The other product is sustainable aviation fuel, which uses refined, bleached, and deodorized palm kernel oil.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) considers it as one of the key elements to reduce the carbon footprint within the aviation environmental footprint. Biofuel in aviation could help decarbonize medium- and long-haul air travel, which produces the most emissions, and could extend the life of older types of aircraft by reducing their carbon footprint.
First-generation biofuel or biodiesel was produced with the aim of replacing the use of fossil fuels in road transport. Their large-scale production can raise concerns such as deforestation, water consumption, impact on food prices, and the impact of irrigation, pesticides, and fertilizers on the local environment. To curb these concerns, the aviation industry supplies itself with sustainably produced biodiesel. This is where the term “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” or SAF comes from.
According to the latest reports from the MPOB, more than 86.4% of Malaysia’s total licensed oil palm acreage is MSPO certified. This would mean that sooner than speculated, all Malaysian oil palm plantations will become 100% certified and sustainable. The country has also made a global commitment to maintain 50% of its land as permanent forest. All this leads to an obvious conclusion: the country can produce both sustainable biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel without endangering wildlife or forest cover.
Palm oil has high potential due to its high yield per hectare and high oil content compared to other oil crops. Looking at the comparable yields of different oil-bearing crops, oil palm is clearly the most efficiently produced oil in the world today. If another vegetable crop is selected as a source for biofuel production, there may be concerns about the expansion of agricultural land. With Malaysian palm oil, it is not just a promise, but an assurance to meet and maintain global requirements for better climate and carbon performance.