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Assessment of availability of fibre residue as biomass fuel

from
Coconuts in Prachuap Kirikhan, Chumporn and the Surat Thani provinces in Thailand.

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Background

The background for this preliminary assessment is to investigate the residues/products from coconut
plantations and coconut handling in the Prachuap Kirikan, Chumporn and Surat Thani provinces:
• Whether the residue is enough to cover the demand for fuel to a biomass fired power plant.
• Whether it is sustainable to collect, handle and burn the residue for electricity generation
• Whether the price of the residue makes the use for electricity production feasible

The background for the calculations of the potential is based on information from
The Tabsakae and Bang Saphan District Agricultural Extension Offices, and Khun Chot
Nguenthang who have kindly supplied all the background information used for preparation of the
tables.

Preliminary Conclusion
The total average daily production of coconuts in the region indicates a possible daily production of
powder residue of around 900 ton.

It is not expected that the total 900-ton can be considered commercially available, but it is believed
possible to collect and utilize around 66%, If the powder starts being used in a larger scale it is
assessed that more suppliers will introduce themselves.

One analysis of the powder indicates a moisture % of 63% and a LHV of 1,498 kcal/kg, (or 6.27
MJ/kg). The content of Potassium (0.38%) and the content of Chlorine (0.43%) might cause
problems in a high temperature and high-pressure boiler. If the powder is burnt with other fuels this
might neutralize the effect from K and Cl. In DK chalk, normally added to fodder, has been added
to small boilers to neutralize negative effects from more different biomass fuels.

As only a minor part of the powder is being used today, there seems to be no reason to fear that the
use as biomass fuel will compete with other use. No negative impact on local farmers and
industries, and only a minimal price increase can be expected when the residue becomes a trade
able product.

Thailand has a political strategy aiming at increased production of oil from oil palm plantations. It
is expected that the cultivated oil palm plantation area is going to be increased by 1.8 million Rai.
As the soil conditions for oil palms are very different from the soil conditions for coconut palm
trees this is not expected to jeopardize investments in utilization of the powder residue.

If a new separate biomass fuelled power plant is established in the region it is recommended to
equip this plant for handling of more different types of biomass.

Production of 1 ton of Fresh Fruit Bunches for production of palm oil produces 1.9 ton of fresh
fronds from the oil palm tree. The yield from an oil palm plantation is 3 ton of FFB/Rai/year or 5.8
ton of fresh fronds/Rai/year. With an increased cultivation area of 1.8 million Rai there will be an
increase in the frond production at 10.4 million ton/year. The LHV of a fresh cut frond (69%
moisture) is 4.5 MJ/kg. The fuel energy content in the fresh fronds from the increased oil palm
plantation area would be 13,000 GWh/year. The Oil Palm fronds might be a good supplementary
fuel for a local biomass fired power plant.

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Compiled and Processed Data

Cultivation Area Rai Coconuts/year
Tapsakae 153,000 183,600,000

Average ton/year Average ton/day

Min. Coconut Production 367,200 1,006
Max. Coconut Production 459,000 1,258
Total Fibre production min. 82,620 226
Total Fibre production max. 100,980 277
Fibre waste min. 55,080 151
Fibre waste max. 64,260 176
Inner shell min. 45,900 126
Inner shell max. 55,080 151

Cultivation Area Rai Coconuts/year

BangSaphan 170,000 204,000,000

Average ton/year Average ton/day

Min. Coconut Production 408,000 1,118
Max. Coconut Production 510,000 1,397
Total Fibre production min. 91,800 252
Total Fibre production max. 112,200 307
Fibre waste min. 61,200 168
Fibre waste max. 71,400 196
Inner shell min. 51000 140
Inner shell max. 61200 168

Cultivation Area Rai Coconuts/year

Chumporn 200,000 240,000,000

Average ton/year Average ton/day

Min. Coconut Production 480,000 1,315
Max. Coconut Production 600,000 1,644
Total Fibre production min. 108,000 296
Total Fibre production max. 132,000 362
Fibre waste min. 72,000 197
Fibre waste max. 84,000 230
Inner shell min. 60,000 164
Inner shell max. 72,000 197

Cultivation Area Rai Coconuts/year

Surat Thani 200,000 240,000,000

Average ton/year Average ton/day

Min. Coconut Production 480,000 1,315
Max. Coconut Production 600,000 1,644
Total Fibre production min. 108,000 296
Total Fibre production max. 132,000 362
Fibre waste min. 72,000 197
Fibre waste max. 84,000 230
Inner shell min. 60,000 164
Inner shell max. 72,000 197

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Summarized data for fibre waste for the investigated provinces

Powder/fibre waste production in ton Minimum/day Maximum/day

Total Prachuap 461 538
Total Chumporn 197 230
Total Surat Thani 197 230
Total for the region 856 998

Coconut processing mass balance

% Min. kg/nut % Max. kg/nut Price at site
Weight 100.0 2.00 100.00 2.50 1.4 THB/kg
Inner Shell 12.5 0.25 12.00 0.30 1 THB/kg
Coconut water 20.0 0.40 20.00 0.50 5 THB/30 litre
Meat 25.0 0.50 24.00 0.60 4 THB/kg
Total Fibre 22.5 0.45 22.00 0.55
Fibre used 7.5 0.15 8.00 0.20 5 THB/kg
Fibre waste 15.0 0.30 14.00 0.35 0.3 THB/kg
Outer hard shell 15.0 0.30 16.00 0.40
Moisture loss 5.0 0.10 6.00 0.15

Average figures informed on March 05, 2003 and May 26, 2005.
The size of coconuts may vary from 2-3 kg/nut, depending on soil, type of crop and water availability
We have used a conservative approach and expect the maximum size to be 2.5 kg
Production figures are based on 1200 coconut/Rai/year

Transportation Costs
On top of the price of the waste and the loading costs transportation of the residue to the power
station is needed.

Transportation by Railway
Railway Freight Charge is around 0.7 ฿ /km.-tonne

Transportation by ship
Transportation Bang Saphan/Rayong by ship/barge is expected to be around: ?? ฿ /tonne

Transportation by road
Unit: ฿ /km.-tonne
Distance, km. 10-wheel truck Trailer
1 - 100 3.04 1.93
101 - 400 1.18 1.22
More than 401 1.15 0.93

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Coconut Processing

The major part of the produced coconuts is handled like shown in the diagram below; the
processing of the fibre, which is of special interest in relation to this assessment, is shown on the
next page.

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Handling of coconuts and some of the residues

At the mill the inner nut with shell, meat and coconut
water is removed from the outer shell (husk) and fibre.

This process is performed by manual labour.

After the removal of the outer shell the nuts are

transported by truck for further processing,

The processing can be for coconut oil production, it

can be for production of coconut cream or it can be for
production of shredded dried coconut meat.

Some local processing of the coconuts takes place, but

still a lot of coconuts are sent away for processing in
areas as far away as Budda Monthorn in Nakorn
Pathom Province

The fibre (husk) in the outer shell is prepared locally.

The outer shells are prepared in a hammering mill
where fibre and other organic materials are separated.
Removal of the outer shell and fibre The fibre fraction is used in more countries for
from coconuts furniture cushion.

Coconut fibre fraction as it looks after preparation in the hammering mill.

The hammering mill is seen in the background.

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Approximately 15 % of the total weight of the coconuts comes out as

powder waste from preparation of fibre in the hammering mill

Baling of the fibre fraction Fibre bales ready for shipment. The
hydraulic press seen in the middle of
the picture is for baling of the powder
fraction

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The powder residue is to

some extent sold as growth
media used in plant
nurseries. But the
production is far above the
demand for the nurseries.
The powder has also been
mixed with pig manure to
increase the fertilizer value
when used as soil
conditioner.

Compressed/baled powder residue from the fibre production

The coconut shell

charcoal is used for
production of activated
carbon. The activated
carbon produced from
coconut shells has a
high quality and is
used for gold refining,
for water purification
and in distilleries.

Charcoal production from coconut shells

Energy Consulting Network APS (Ltd.), Heibergsgade 36, st., DK–8000 Århus C, Denmark
CVR- DK 25 32 47 65