Palm Kernel Shells as Biomass Resource

Biomass residue from palm oil industry are attractive renewable energy fuel in Southeast Asia. The abundance of these biomass resources is increasing with the fast development of palm oil industry in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. In the Palm Oil value chain there is an overall surplus of by-products and the utilisation rate of these by-products is low.

Palm kernel shells (or PKS) are the shell fractions left after the nut has been removed after crushing in the palm oil mill. Palm kernel shells are a fibrous material and can be easily handled in bulk directly from the product line to the end use. Large and small shell fractions are mixed with dust-like fractions and small fibres.

Moisture content in kernel shells is low compared to other biomass residues with different sources suggesting values between 11% and 13%. Palm kernel shells contain residues of Palm Oil, which accounts for its slightly higher heating value than average lignocellulosic biomass. Compared to other residues from the industry, palm kernel shells are a good quality biomass fuel with uniform size distribution, easy handling, easy crushing, and limited biological activity due to low moisture content.

Palm Kernel Shells

Press fibre and kernel shell generated by the palm oil mills are traditionally used as solid fuels for steam boilers. The steam generated is used to run turbines for electricity production. These two solid fuels alone are able to generate more than enough energy to meet the energy demands of a palm oil mill.

Most palm oil mills in the region are self-sufficient in terms of energy by making use of kernel shells and mesocarp fibers in cogeneration. The demand for palm kernel shells has increased considerably in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand resulting in price close to that of coal. Nowadays, cement industries are using palm kernel shells to replace coal mainly because of CDM benefits.

PKS has also emerged as a hot biomass commodity in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in South Korea and Japan, where PKS is being used to power huge biomass power plants. PKS is also getting traction in Europe as an attractive alternative fuel.

The problems associated with the burning of these solid fuels are the emissions of dark smoke and the carry-over of partially carbonized fibrous particulates due to incomplete combustion of the fuels can be tackled by commercially-proven technologies in the form of high-pressure boilers.

Dual-fired boilers capable of burning either diesel oil or natural gas are the most suitable for burning palm Oil waste since they could also facilitate the use of POME-derived biogas as a supplementary fuel. However, there is a great scope for introduction of high-efficiency CHP systems in the industry which will result in substantial supply of excess power to the public grid.

author avatar
Salman Zafar
Salman Zafar is the CEO of BioEnergy Consult, and an international consultant, advisor and trainer with expertise in waste management, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, environment protection and resource conservation. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biogas technology, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Salman has participated in numerous national and international conferences all over the world. He is a prolific environmental journalist, and has authored more than 300 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. In addition, he is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability through his blogs and portals. Salman can be reached at salman@bioenergyconsult.com or salman@cleantechloops.com.

51 thoughts on “Palm Kernel Shells as Biomass Resource

  1. A very interesting article.
    Regarding your comment;

    “Palm kernel shells contain residues of Palm Oil, which accounts for its slightly higher heating value than average lignocellulosic biomass”

    I would be interested to know if you have a typical value for the residual oil content of Palm Kernel Shells?

    Many thanks

  2. Your article was very interesting to me as i have designed and built presses ideal for compresing PKS into fire logs weighing 3kg and measuring 100x100x200mm the plant can produce app 8mt per hr

      1. Dear Ryan
        Thanks for your email. Good to know about your interest in PKS.
        I wish to inform you that BioEnergy Consult is a consultancy organization and will charge an appropriate fee for providing the required information. Hope you are comfortable with it.
        Look forward to hearing back soon.

        Best wishes
        Salman Zafar

        CEO, BioEnergy Consult

        1. Your article was informative with great aspirations. I want to learn more as well possibly will like to venture into this cause this resources lie waste in my country Nigeria. Whatever is involved. Pls my e-mail iniobongdavidgeo@gmail. com

  3. Please I have a lot of palm karnel shell to export from nigeria ,let me know how to go about it.thanks

  4. We are Ghana based Importer/Exporter and Supplier s of all kinds of PALM Products (and other Agro Products) such as: Palm Kernel Shells (PKS), Palm Kernel Fibers, Palm Kernel Cake, Palm Crude Oil and Palm Kernel Oil & etc.

    We would like to partner with you to engage in the Market look-out and Partnership. If in need of more information, kindly feel free to contact us at:

    E-mail: ahanonuconceptltd@gmail.com
    Skype: ahanonu01

  5. A charming article indeed…I’ve never had so many information about kernel shells. I have a lot of it I mean a lot of it in my environment because there are so many companies using kernel as there raw materials…maybe we can workout something if ever will be needing it. Thanks.

    1. Haha we just waste them I will be happy if I can get someone help me make it useful cos I have a farm on that

  6. thanks for this article , we have this in large volume in nigeria place put me through on how to export them .thanks .

  7. Pls i am based in Ghana with a stock of pks. Kindly provide links to possible markets in Europe or elsewhere

  8. If anyone needs Palm Kernel Shell, I can provide Palm Kernel Shell of my country Indonesia minimum of 10,000 MT / month.
    If there is a serious buyer or importer please submitted the specification and the amount you wish through the LOI to my email: don_rickson@hotmail.com.
    Thank you to the owner of this blog

  9. I want more information on the cost of set up of the palm kernel shell renewable energy processing and packaging for export markets and market targets.

  10. how serious is anyone here looking for PkS …if you will not buy it at less price please teach us the way to turn this shell to biomass so we also can gain a living out of such work …my emails is kwakusantos45@gmail.com…remember sharing is caring so please share your experience
    thanks reading

  11. I need a contact to supply palm kernel shells from Nigeria to buyers or any company interested tank u

  12. A very nice 1,thanks dear writer, I have palm kernel shell coal in a larger quantity available for sale, let’s chat on WhatsApp 08068110475

  13. PKS as a raw fuel is an establilshed high cost item. The real market should be for biocoal from palm kernel shells, fruit bunches or any other volume biomass waste by-product but the market is completely illusory. It simply doesn’t exist today. I am looking for a market for millions of tons of biocoal from torrefaction of woody based biomass and agribusiness by-products to export from California and I can NOT find a single buyer, anywhere who is even slightly qualified to contract for major volumes at coal equivalent prices.

    All these articles on business potential appear to be simply dreams.

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