Benefits of Oil Palm Biomass
Loso Judijanto
ABSTRACT
Heightened global demand for clean energy sources has catalyzed the reassessment of agro-industrial residues, with oil palm biomass gaining recognition as a valuable input for circular bioeconomy development. Although it is widely available across Southeast Asia, with notable concentrations in Indonesia and Malaysia, the full range of technological, environmental, and economic benefits of oil palm biomass remains underexplored in a systematically synthesized form. This study aims to critically assess and consolidate scholarly findings on the valorization of oil palm biomass through a qualitative Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The research adopted the PRISMA framework, focusing exclusively on peer-reviewed, open-access articles published between 2023 and 2025, sourced from the ScienceDirect database. An initial dataset of 5,011 articles was filtered through multiple stages, resulting in 43 eligible publications. Data were extracted using thematic coding and analyzed through qualitative content analysis to identify recurring patterns, emerging themes, and knowledge gaps. The results indicate that oil palm biomass offers significant potential across three key dimensions: energy production (via pyrolysis, gasification, and biorefinery techniques), environmental enhancement (through carbon sequestration, waste minimization, and emission reduction), and economic viability (e.g., positive return on investment and local job creation). However, the utilization of this resource remains constrained by technological, logistical, and policy-related challenges. In conclusion, oil palm biomass presents a multifaceted opportunity for sustainable development. Future research is recommended to explore site-specific life cycle assessments, decentralized bioindustry models, and integrated policy frameworks.
