Utilization of Palm Kernel Shell Charcoal as an Effort to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

According to the results of the audit conducted by BPD Sawit 2022, the area of ??oil palm plantations in Indonesia has reached 16.8 million hectares, and Riau Province is in first place as the province with the most extensive plantations in Indonesia. With the vastness of oil palm plantations, more and more palm shells are produced. Palm shells come from waste generated from the palm oil extraction process. This process involves pressing oil palm fruit to make palm shells as a secondary product. These palm shells are formed from the outer part of the skin of the oil palm fruit, which is waste from separating the palm kernel from the oil palm fruit bunches. Many palm oil companies use palm shells as fuel for power plants. In addition to being a fuel for biomass power plants, palm shell waste can be used as a raw material for charcoal. Palm shell charcoal is charcoal made from palm shell waste by burning or through a pyrolysis process.

The main advantages of palm kernel shell charcoal compared to conventional materials include energy efficiency with high calorific value, palm kernel shell charcoal is able to provide greater energy output per unit of fuel. Relatively low and environmentally friendly production costs are also one of the advantages for palm kernel shell charcoal producers.

Indonesia, as a palm kernel shell producer, has great potential in the development of palm kernel shell charcoal. With increasing palm oil production, palm kernel shells, which were previously considered waste, can now be utilized as a necessity both as fuel and raw materials for activated carbon. The use of palm kernel shell charcoal is also in line with efforts to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially in terms of the use of renewable energy, waste reduction, and increasing energy efficiency. Innovation in the use of this charcoal can also help create new jobs in the waste processing and renewable energy sectors in Indonesia.