Efficiency of Industrial-Scale Biogas Application from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) as a Renewable Energy Source: A Case Study at PT AMP

The palm oil industry is a large contributor to greenhouse gases in Indonesia. The application of biogas from the palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment plant has become one of the solutions so it has been implemented at PT Agro Masang Perkasa (AMP). The catch of methane gasses is carried out by covering the waste pond with High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) material to create anaerobic conditions in the waste pool. The research results show that the methane gas obtained has been utilized as a renewable energy source such as biogas in factories with a total gas flow supplied to the engine of 135957, 121655, and 133736 Nm 3 respectively, and an average power produced of 159.530, 153.168, and 160.161 MWh per month during observations in January, February, and March 2022. Although not all of the captured biogas is used for electrical energy, the benefits of implementing this technology mean that PT AMP has an average electricity efficiency in January, February, and March 2022 of 15.20 %, 22.49%, and 20.96%. Based on calculations, it is found that the use of methane capture or biogas technology at PT AMP can provide cost efficiency in a year of IDR. 5.21 billion and can return the installation capital within 3.5 years.