Who would have thought that small pieces of palm fiber and shells could hold such great power? With a touch of simple technology, waste that was once discarded is now transformed into high-energy solid fuel — biobriquettes, a green energy solution born from Indonesia’s tropical plantations.

From Palm Waste to Green Energy

The rapid pace of industrial revolution has made the world increasingly hungry for energy, while coal reserves continue to dwindle and their environmental impacts grow more alarming. Amid these challenges, palm oil waste — often underutilized — turns out to hold significant potential. From palm fiber and shells emerges a new hope: biobriquettes, an eco-friendly solid fuel with the potential to become a sustainable energy source for the future.

Eco-Friendly Biobriquette Innovation

Research conducted by Riza Hudayarizka, B.Sc., M.Sc., Raya Amalia, and Ismi Khairunnissa Ariani, B.Sc., M.Sc. focuses on producing environmentally friendly biobriquettes from palm fiber and shell waste by adding cassava peel adhesive. This adhesive helps increase the strength and density of the biobriquettes, resulting in a more efficient and stable solid fuel.

Various compositions were tested to determine the best biobriquette quality based on physical and thermal parameters. The best results showed impressive figures: moisture content of 8.05%, ash content 4.55%, volatile matter 26.55%, fixed carbon 60.85%, calorific value reaching 6,600 cal/g, density 0.880 kg/m³, and compressive strength 1.125 MPa. With these characteristics, the produced biobriquettes are dense, have high combustion power, and hold great potential as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Renewable Energy from Plantation Lands

This research proves that biobriquettes made from palm oil waste possess great potential as an efficient and environmentally friendly renewable energy source. With high quality and abundant raw materials available in Indonesia, this innovation — developed by Riza Hudayarizka, B.Sc., M.Sc., Raya Amalia, and Ismi Khairunnissa Ariani, B.Sc., M.Sc. — offers a tangible solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while supporting sustainable energy development for the future.