IGEM 2020

IGEM 2020 Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Pocket Talk

IGEM 2020 Keypoints

IGEM2020- Key Points related to Green Technology and Energy Security

19-23 October 2020

Speech by Yang Amat Berhormat Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Muhyiddin Haji Mohd Yassin, Prime Minister of Malaysia

· Climate change impacted food production, shift weather, rise in sea level etc.

· Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): From the year 1988-2012, global temperature had been increased by 0.85 °C and resulted to climate crisis and global warming.

· Due to COVID-19, green recovery pathway, sustainable energy and green technology are necessary to drive Malaysia economy with low carbon emission.

· Budget 2021 on sustainable green agenda outline will be announced soon to enhance effective collaboration between organizations in Malaysia.

· Green technology must be aligned with Green Technology Master Plan (GTMP), which outline approach up to 2030 for the attainment of low carbon sustainable economy.

· This will promote collaboration between organization through circular economy concept.

· Industry should enhance extended producer responsibility policy to promote environmentally sustainable business strategy.

· Malaysia has 52 local authorities for low carbon sustainable energy.

· Malaysia also wish to resolve water management, global warming, and infrastructure.

· It is expected that more than 35% of the land area for forest plantation and green building construction.

Speech by Mr. Tengku Muhammad Taufik bin Tengku Aziz, President and Group CEO of PETRONAS

· COVID-19 cases caused 4 billion people to lock-down since April the global energy demand decreased by 6% in 2020 according to International Energy Agency.

· Fossil fuel demand is expected to decrease due to less travel by people.

· Renewable energy à global energy transition on green, sustainable energy source (collaboration with industry partners)

· Malaysia aimed to reduce GHGs emission by 45% by the year of 2030 (Paris Agreement).

· To support the energy policy and energy security, PETRONAS aims to create a renewable business as a one stop centre for wind, solar, hydrogen energy.

· PETRONAS have technical expertise and able to leverage skills through holistic approach to benefit government, environment, and social.

· Target to reduce 49.5 million CO₂ by 2024 à future plans are on-going.

· Industries, government focus on low carbon agenda.

· Natural gas as a transition fuel in driving global energy change.

· Government: large scale solar power plant boosted Malaysia employment.

· PETRONAS partnership with Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Sdn. Bhd. and UTP aimed to produce 8 and 7 MW of rooftop solar energy, respectively, by 2021 as part of decarbonization agenda and hydrogen storage solution.

Advanced Recycling of Waste Plastic with Cat-HTR™ by Mura Technology Limited (Dr Geoff Brighty, Richard Daley)

· Advanced technology in recycling of plastic: depolymerization, hydrolysis/thermal cracking, gasification, hydrothermal liquefaction

· Use of supercritical water during recycling of waste plastic: a source of H₂ to break down chemical chains, rapid heating, avoid excessive temperatures that could lead to excessive cracking and char formation, a scalable process.

· Up to 85% of the mass of plastic is converted to liquid hydrocarbon product that could make new plastics, chemicals etc.

· Current method to resolve waste plastic is either incineration or landfill.

· Hydrocarbon products:

- As the high-pressure system is depressurized exit the reactors, majority of the liquids flash off as vapour. This vapour is then cooled in a distillation column and condensed liquid are separated on boiling range to produce valuable hydrocarbon liquids and oils.

- Naphtha oil: petrochemical feedstock for new plastic prod.

- Distillate gas oil: petrochemical feedstock, base oil production, hydrocracker feed etc.

- Heavy wax residue: asphalt/bitumen production, coke feedstock etc

· Technology advances (recycling waste plastic with supercritical water)

- Direct heat transfer via supercritical water gives an efficient and controllable conversion process.

- Deliver high yields of liquid products.

- Homogeneous reaction condition allows product spilt to be controlled

- Supercritical water donates H₂ to products, reducing complexity and cost.

· Environmental advances

- Reduce dependency on fossil feedstock

- Reduce CO₂ emission by around 1.5 tonnes for every tonnes of plastic processed compared to incineration

Alternative Energy Technology by Malaysian Youth Delegation

· Green hydrogen by steam reforming– Renewable, zero carbon emission

· Current H₂ prices: RM 20/kg

· 1 kg of H₂ = 33kWh = RM 0.60/kWh

· Renewable H₂ cost = RM 5.83/kg & RM 0.17/kWh by 2030

· Sarawak Energy

a. First integrated H₂ production plant in South-East Asian.

b. H₂ generated by electrolysis

c. Refuelling up to 5 buses and 10 cars per day

d. Aim: energy mix for green transportation systems and energy storage with export potential

· Limitation: green H₂ requires higher energy to be produced.

Shedding light from empty fruit bunches (EFB) by Alternative energy technology

· Calorific value of EFB (1400 kcal/kg) < wood chips, saw dust, rice husk (3000-3500 kcal/kg)

· After pelletized, the calorific value of EFB increases to > 4000 kcal/kg with reduction of moisture content.

· EFB pelletizing is suitable for transportation, handling, storage, and combustion of fuel (low or no smoke generation due to low level of impurity).

· Pelletizing process promotes cleansing and drying of EFB.

· Local case study: Co-firing of coal and EFB pellets in power plants (Stesen Janakuasa Sultan Azlan Shah, SJSAS) – largest coal power plant in Malaysia.

· Challenges include the logistical challenge (poor road connectivity in transporting EFB pellets) and unstable feedstock supply (industry’s seasonal nature). Production quota is not met.

Speech by Mr Frazaili Ismail, Assistant Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia

· Malaysia support green technology via green technology financing scheme (GTFS)

· Funding gap solution for government capital by draw in private capital.

· Renewable energy sector requires a total of RM 33.5 billion of funding by 2025 based on the projection provided by the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA).

· Most issue for green investment is the critical mismatch funding demand and supply and information asymmetry.

· Solution is the bridging of information gap between scientist, government, and finances.

· Finances aim to build the plant capacity for better access to the viability of the projects, with limited know-how part of the finances on the green sector lead to the hesitation of provide funding.

The Energy Transition to Renewable Energy Sources by Tenaga National Berhad

· Energy in term of sustainability starts to become more affordable.

· For the next decades up to 2030, we are in the situation where the system is overgeneration, more capacity than we need.

· The reserved margin for the next ten years will increase for 30-50%, which is significantly higher than the minimum requirement of 28%.

· We do not need to build more conventional capacity for the next ten years.

· Focus can be given to renewables energy as the opportunity has become increasingly affordable.

· For last solar project SS3, cost for renewable or solar has now become cheaper than natural gas.

· Post COVID: opportunity in crisis as looking at choices where to invest to recover the respective global international economy.

· Opportunity is to shift towards more sustainable energy sources in order to reshape the nation economy.

· Benefit: investment in renewable energy generation versus conventional generation will generate 2.5- 3 times more jobs. This will benefit the nation and building strong case moving toward sustainable energy.

· Focus area for Malaysia: TNB has done a lot of studies for renewable energy, and TNB see three potential areas can focus on:

- Affordable decarbonization

- Energy efficiency

- Electrification of mobility

· Affordable decarbonization: solar/renewable energy generation capacity in Malaysia total is about 9%, comprising solar, mini hydro, biomass, biogas and waste to energy. Large scale hydro makes up another 8%, so total about 17%. Solar make up around 4% of the total generation, still indicating many more potential moving forward. Solar energy resulted in 50% reduction in the energy cost, this make solar very competitive compared to gas, which is currently running at 23.7sen/kWh based on the third quarter prices. Coupled with storage, solar become more viable, interesting but solar today cannot completely replace dependable capacity like gas and coal. But solar coupled with storage, this will become a viable option. Storage technology is paired with the gas, solar and storage within this decade. The other opportunity for decarbonization for Malaysia is hydro energy. Hydro is not only used as a source of energy, but also other functions as well including energy storage, environmental and social functions such as flood mitigation, clean water supply and for agricultural.

· Energy efficiency: energy to reduce the overall consumption and also to manage the balance between the energy used throughout the day is important. Reduce the capacity needed for the system. Energy consumption target is 8% electricity saving to energy efficiency by 2025. This can be done by including more non-electricity energy use. Power sectors make up only 20%, transportation about 40%, industry sectors 40%. Opportunity in energy efficiency to be happened in transportation and industry sectors.

· Electrification of mobility: less than 2% are electric vehicles, indicating a huge opportunity for penetration of electrical vehicles. Transportation contributes to 24% of the emission in the energy sectors. Opportunity is here to convert these emissions to more green based solutions. Regarding the reducing emissions, electric vehicles provide the best option in sense that it is more efficient compared to the internal combustion engines. Internal combustion engines make up of 40% efficiency in term of energy input and output. Electric motor runs about 90% efficiency. Concern for electric vehicle is the cost, so pathway is needed to be set for that to happen by 2030. Two options are going forward: either become a technology adopter (buy the electric vehicle from oversea and penetrate in the local market) or look at the opportunity to localising in creating electric vehicles.

· Three pillars of business of TNB: generation, create, customers. For generation, TNB aims to increase a focus more on renewable energy in Malaysia and internationally. In Malaysia, will focus on large scale solar based and other opportunities. Overall, TNB aims to increase the renewable energy capacity to 1.7 GW locally and internationally by 2025.

· TNB will continue to invest RM 7-9 billion per annum, not only for modernization, but also supply requirement, and reinforce the system reliability.

The Energy Transition to Renewable Energy Sources by Bosch Malaysia

· 4 levels of carbon neutral: improvement of energy efficiency, expanding the supply of renewable energy, procure green electricity, carbon off setting as a bridging solution

· Aim at Bosch: save 1.7 TWh worldwide by 2030.

· Bosch will be investing billions of Euros over the next ten years to promote innovative measures for energy efficiency improvement.

· Investment in the new clean power or renewable energy, Bosch aims to increase the energy generation from renewable sources by using the photo vortex and wind from 55 GWh in 2018 to 400 GWh by 2030, representing an increase of 70%.

· Bosch also encourage the business partners with the long-term sourcing contract to install new renewable energy capacity.

· Bosch is using digital solution for energy efficiency.

· Solar project in Malaysia: 3000 tons of CO₂ offset, 900 tons of waste recycled.

The Energy Transition to Renewable Energy Sources by PETRONAS New Energy

· Policy for climate change: limit the global warming < 2°C, reduce greenhouse gas emissions à tighter emission rules, increased renewables share in future energy mix, provide incentives to support low carbon future.

· Technology advancement: energy storage (to resolve intermittency issues of renewables), artificial intelligence (to automate operations and optimize the use of renewable energy), and blockchain (incorruptible digital ledger that conducts and records transactions).

· Customised solar solutions: on-site solar, off-site solar, battery storage & hydbrid solutions, hawk AI energy & data monitoring solution.

Hydrogen Economy Forum by YBhg Datu Sharbini Suhaili, Mr Bill Ireland, Mr Heino von Meyer, Mr Ravi Krishnaswamy, YBhg Prof Dato’ Ir Dr Abu Bakar Jaafar

· Motivation to produce H₂: To improve air quality, to improve climate change, to reduce air pollution, to reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

· Sarawak Energy:

- Lightning up community

- Supporting the federal and Sarawak government on rural electrification.

- Lowest average tariffs in Malaysia, amongst the most competitive tariffs in the region

- 76.5% drop in carbon intensity for power supply

· H₂ development in Sarawak

- Essential feedstock for oil & gas fertilizer industries

- Used to flush impurities in semiconductor and material industries

- Coolant for turbo generators at thermal power plant

- Pilot- H₂ production plant and refuelling station

· H₂ as green renewable energy

- Grey H₂: split natural gas/coal into H₂ and CO₂, CO₂ emitted into the atmosphere

- Blue H₂: Split natural gas/coal into H₂ and CO₂, CO₂ captured and stored.

- Green H₂: Split water into H₂ and O₂ through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, no CO₂ emitted.

· Challenges: high cost today, technology readiness, economies of scale

Sustainable solution for solid waste management in Malaysia

· Wastewater biosolids, source separated organics, municipal solid waste, food processing waste, agricultural waste à integrated solutions à renewable power, renewable gas, recyclables, fertilizers, clean water

· Municipal solid waste: 45-50% biowaste, 5-10% recyclable, 20-30% non-recyclable inorganic, 15-30% inerts, 70-80% moisture, average calorific value: 1000-2000 kcal/kg

· Organics separation- Organics Extrusion Press (OREX): key unlocking the largest organic waste feedstock in existence, reliably separates mixed solid waste streams inti wet organics and dry residues.

· Malaysia’s waste to energy market: biogas upgrading to renewable natural gas, renewable power generation from biogas à renewable H₂ for fuel cell vehicles, CO₂ methanation & liquid fuels à superior environmental benefits, growing economic profile and job creation, government incentives and fuel standards.

· Biogas and green fuels – Malaysia government to install majority of its 447 palm oil mills with biogas plants, fiscal incentives to promote growth in the biogas upgrading sector, Malaysia committed to reduce GHGs by 45% by 2030.

· Food waste: on-site digester and fertilizer production, on-site biogas upgrading to renewables natural gas.

· Quadrogen’s goal in Malaysia: create new project opportunities with potential partners (Green Bio Synergy Sdn. Bhd., FGV Palm Industries Sdn. Bhd., Sakti Suria, Concord Green Energy Sdn. Bhd., Greentech Malaysia), initiate and follow-up discussions of potential projects and funding support in Malaysia until the rise of COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaysia Biomass Industries Webinar (MBIW) 2020

· Bioenergy presents the best case in term of achieving environmental sustainability i.e. GHG emission reduction vs other business models.

· Bioenergy includes biofuels, biogas, pellet, briquettes, bioCNG, power plant

· Bio agriculture and eco-products are applicable as decent business models to SMEs due to much shorter payback period vs capital intensive biomass power plant.

· Bioagriculture includes biofertilizer, animal feed, aqua-feed, compost, biochar

· Eco-products include pulp and paper, biocomposites, biopackaging, activated carbon, fiber, bioplastics, bioresin, 3D printing filament.

· Biochemical sectors present good business case in term of high value-add ratio but capital intensive thus beyond financial capacity of SMEs and takes longest timeframe for commercialization by SMEs.

· MBIC recommendation during MOF dialogue on sustainable energy

- TNB to adopt co-firing initiative using biomass (pellets) through sustainable financing mechanism.

- New Financing Mechanism to develop Bio-CNG as a green fuel for transportation

- Address financing issues of biomass power plant

- Address feedstock availability issues for utility scale biomass plant based on new economic mechanism.

- Creation of SDG-Driven financing scheme focusing on bioenergy development.

· Issues with bio-energy: access to the feedstock on long term supply at reasonable pricing, access to financing for biomass power plant, negative perception on biomass power plant from bankers.

· Cross-cutting issues: duplicate efforts to promote biomass industries from government departments and lack of one-stop government authority agency to champion biomass, lack of integrated approach from government to champion comprehensive bio-energy strategies (beyond electricity) as well as championing sustainable production and consumption for biomass-based eco products such as bioplastics, pulp and paper.

· Opportunities:

- good business case for biogas project (5-6 years payback)

- good business case for fuel switching from fossil to biomass especially conversion from biomass to heat (4-5 years payback)

- soft loan with 2% interest rate subsidized by Malaysia Government (GTFS/SDG loan) available for various biomass projects based on sustainability theme

- availability of government grant (MOSTI) to support bio-based innovation/green energy. 4 MBIC members have secured close to RM4.5 million grant from respective government agencies.

- MBIC can assist member to engage with public funding agencies to formulate demand driven proposal of government grant application.

- 2 MBIC members listed in Bursa LEAP market, which are Fibromat (M) Sdn. Bhd.

- SDG-driven Green Economy opportunities in term of green procurement based on the principles of responsible consumption and production.

· The way forward

- Creation of government-industry-research institutions and financial institutions platform to address various issues, remove barriers and unlock opportunities to create green growth.

- Blue Ocean Strategy to unlock biomass pellet export potential based on G2G intervention between Malaysia and Japan.

- Bio-fertilizer: linking bio-fertilizer economic model to fertlizers subsidy scheme in Malaysia budget.

- Waste (biomass) as commodity as outlined in the strategy paper of RMK-12.

- Comprehensive strategy need to be formulated unlock bioenergy potential in Malaysia (beyond electricity).

· TreeHouz Asia Shd. Bhd.: biomass processing company, convert solid biomass into solid biofuel (mainly oil palm biomass)

· Palm kernel shell: 4.1 M dry tonnes/year, empty fruit bunches: 6.7 M dry tonnes/year, oil palm trunk: 14.4 M dry tonnes/year

· Current challenges for OPT & EFB pellet:

- Processing: potassium, natrium & chlorine content (Na + K < 1800 ppm, Cl < 500 ppm), Material handling, Waste/wastewater treatment

- Production cost: electricity consumption, wear & tear, high drying cost for OPT – 80% water content

- Require high electricity supply

- Market: OPT pellet accepted by Japan, EFB pellet: only a few power plants can consume.

- COVID: many new projects on-hold

- Certification: custody of chain/traceability

· Certificate scheme for sustainable biomass: GGL. It offers standards for specific parts of the supply chain, as well as track & trace standards. GGL is in compliance with the Dutch regulatory requirements for the use of biomass in energy production.

· GGL serves as the scheme for certification to assure the traded and consumed biomass products by energy producers are from a sustainable source. Since 2012 over 172 billion metric tons of biomass-sourced either from wood or other types of feedstock for various companies in Europe and North America trading or utilizing biomass materials was certified under GGL scheme.

· The Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) is a certification system designed for woody biomass, mostly in the form of wood pellets and woodchips, used in industrial, large-scale energy production. It provides the assurance that woody biomass is sourced from legal and sustainable sources allowing companies in the biomass sector to demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.

Waste Management

· Since September 2015, the Malaysia government has made it mandatory to separate waste at source under the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act 2007 (Act 672). A joint effort of Alam Flora (Putrajaya, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur), SWCorp (KL, Putrajaya, Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Kedah, Perlis), Cenviro (Kedah, Perlis, Perak)

· Moving forward:

- Encourage waste prevention, reduction and separation in the national SWM agenda

- Education and awareness campaign on waste separation at source

- Incentivised small-scale waste collection and recycling company

- Work with local government to standardized the scheme of waste separation at source nationwide.

· Why need to recycle organic waste?

- Malaysia generated approximately 16,700 tonnes of food waste per day in 2018.

- Landfilling organics: source of methane gas, which is 21 times more potent than CO₂, leachate causing groundwater contamination.

- Effects of chemical fertilizers: decrease soil fertility and remove nutrients from soil, resource intensive, eutrophication

· Commercial composting solutions

- Decomposes food waste into compost using controlled parameters such as temperature, agitation, and airflow

- Benefits: processes between 30kg-250 kg of food waste per day, reduce the GHGs emission, compost products can be utilized on-site for landscaping, urban farming, animal feed, vermin prevention.

· Issues faced in Malaysia: health and safety risks, inconvenient access to waste rooms/disposal points, lack of education strategy, labour intensive.

Way forward from CBBR

· Networking and linkages with industry- Meeting with Technical Consultancy & New Energy, Cekap Technical Services Sdn. Bhd. to explore potential collaboration related to biomass and biofuel research.

· Lab Testing Enquiries and Services- e.g. TGA-MS.