Review on Carbon Footprint of the Palm Oil Industry: Insights into Recent Developments
Wai Onn Hong
Abstract
A typical palm oil mill is estimated to produce greenhouse gas emissions of 637-1,131 kg CO2 eq/t crude palm oil.Huge efforts are being made to reduce the carbon footprint of palm oil mills.However, the data from such research works have not been consolidated.This paper is a critical review of the most recent developments in the palm oil milling process and unit operations that leads to greenhouse gas emissions, specifically focusing on the development of palm oil mills today.In addition, the paper explored the importance of energy selfsufficiency of palm oil mills.To do so, the author compared this configuration with a mill that requires an external power supply and estimated that a self-sufficient palm oil mill could potentially reduce emissions by 457 kg CO2 eq/t crude palm oil.Methods with the greatest positive effect on the carbon footprint have been identified for further investigation.