Utilizing biomass for sustainable energy: a focus on power plants in Malaysia

Currently, fossil fuels—specifically, coal, natural gas, and occasionally oil—are the primary fuel source for power plants in Southeast Asia. In several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, coal is the most common fuel used to generate electricity. Due to its economic advantages, coal has been favored by Indonesia's domestic energy strategy, and the country is a significant producer and exporter of coal. To fulfil its increasing energy needs, Vietnam has also made significant investments in coal-fired power facilities. Southeast Asia's energy industry is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions due to the usage of fossil fuels, which puts global climate goals at risk. With major environmental and financial advantages, biomass fuel—especially agricultural waste like rice husks, wood pellets, and palm oil biomass—is becoming more widely acknowledged as a competitive alternative to fossil fuels for power generation. For instance, palm oil residues can be co-fired with coal to achieve higher boiler efficiencies while reducing net carbon emissions. Government initiatives like Malaysia’s National Biomass Strategy 2020, along with regional cooperation, are driving the adoption of biomass across Southeast Asia. Despite challenges such as supply chain issues and technological constraints, biomass holds significant potential to contribute to renewable energy targets and support sustainability goals. The aim of this paper is to examine the current state of biomass co-firing in Malaysia's power plants, focusing on the operational challenges it poses to boiler integrity and discussing practical mitigation strategies to support sustainable energy generation.