Malaysia National Energy Transition from the Oil Palm Sector

The Malaysian government launched the National Energy Policy 2022–2040 on 19 September 2022 to enhance macroeconomic resilience and energy security, promote social equity and affordability, and foster environmental sustainability. The transformation of the energy sector is being carried out within the context of a global energy transition aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The potential contribution from the oil palm sector in the energy transition was reviewed. Although renewable energy derived from various oil palm by-products presents no food-fuel conflicts, it remains unscalable due to limitations in planting areas. Treatments of palm biomass could improve fuel properties and marketability. The overall fatty acids methyl esters esterification reaction tends to follow a second-order rate with respect to free fatty acids. Anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent produces biogas. Depending on the available feedstock, processes such as Fischer-Tropsch or hydrotreated esters and fatty acids could generate sustainable aviation fuel. The palm oil industrial premises also offer substantial space for clean solar photovoltaic energy on their rooftops. The energy transition from the oil palm sector requires a comprehensive and collaborative approach that involves all stakeholders.