The rising global energy demand, driven by population growth and industrialization, has intensified the need to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy due to the environmental harm caused by carbon emissions. In Malaysia, while palm oil production is economically significant, it produces large amounts of biomass waste such as empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm kernel shells, and palm oil mill effluent (POME) which pose serious environmental threats if not properly managed.

In rural areas of Sarawak, such as Marudi, access to stable electricity remains a challenge due to remote locations and high diesel fuel costs. Utilising renewable energy, particularly from palm oil waste, offers a sustainable solution. Biomass sources like EFB and POME can be converted into electricity through biogas and combustion technologies. This approach not only reduces reliance on diesel generators but also addresses waste management and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing local biomass energy systems can improve energy access, cut operational costs, and promote environmental sustainability in remote communities.

Global energy demand continues to rise annually due to rapid population growth and industrial development. Although fossil fuels have historically been the dominant source of energy due to their established infrastructure and lower upfront costs, their environmental impact is becoming increasingly unsustainable [1,2]. The growing awareness of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, and rising sea levels has intensified the shift toward renewable energy sources [3]. Fossil fuel combustion, especially from coal, oil, and natural gas, contributes significantly to carbon emissions, necessitating urgent transition strategies toward clean energy alternatives [4].

In the Malaysian context, palm oil production remains a cornerstone of the economy. However, it also generates large volumes of biomass waste, including empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm kernel shells, and POME. These by-products, if improperly managed, are often discarded into landfills, water sources, or used as low-grade fertilizers, posing serious environmental hazards [5]. Recent research highlights the untapped potential of converting this biomass waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion, gasification, and combustion technologies [6]. Utilizing palm oil waste not only addresses waste management challenges but also supports rural electrification, especially in underserved regions like Marudi, Sarawak. Malaysia is one of the potential and favourite countries to use the technology as Malaysia is among the countries that produce a large amount of palm oil. Since the amount of waste from palm oil mills is high all over the country, the scope of the research is based on the transportation cost compared with the total diesel fuel used in the rural area and the waste used as the source for biomass energy generation. In addition, palm oil mills are usually located away from the city where there is a palm oil plantation; therefore, the proposed biogas plant should be at a nearby location [7].

This study investigates the viability of using palm oil mill waste as a renewable energy source to generate electricity for rural communities. It draws on current literature comparing the effectiveness of biomass energy utilization in both developed and developing nations. Renewable energy from biomass has the potential to reduce dependency on diesel generators, lower energy costs, and provide a more stable, sustainable electricity supply in rural Malaysia. Thus, the objective of this paper is to assess the feasibility and impact of deploying palm oil waste-based energy systems for rural electrification. In this article, the analysis of using palm oil waste as the energy source has been performed based on the data gathered from available resources and manual calculation was carried out to investigate the potential of applying the technology to build a biogas plant. This biogas plant will have a supply of biomass waste that is collected from the nearby palm oil mills. Therefore, by comparing and analyzing data from developing countries that have already implemented this technology, this paper aims to provide core insights for future researchers to investigate more into implementing this technology. This study explores the potential of converting palm oil waste into renewable energy, particularly for rural electrification in underserved areas like Marudi, Sarawak. Technologies such as anaerobic digestion, gasification, and combustion are highlighted as effective means for converting biomass into electricity. The research evaluates the feasibility of deploying biogas plants near palm oil mills, emphasizing reduced transportation costs and sustainable energy supply compared to diesel generators. Furthermore, this study draws on literature and comparative case studies from both developed and developing countries to assess the practicality and impact of palm oil waste-to-energy systems. Ultimately, it aims to offer valuable insights for future researchers and policymakers interested in expanding Malaysia’s renewable energy capacity through palm biomass utilization.

Renewable energy is the primary source of energy for the future. Malaysia has plenty of supply of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and produces the highest level of emission among ASEAN countries (like Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand) [40]. It also has access to renewable sources of energy (biomass and solar), and the demand for those sources is very high compared to most developed countries [41]. The projection of the demand for maximum energy is estimated at 40,515 MW by 2020. In the past, curbing the use of energy in Malaysia was not seen as a necessity because the increase in energy usage was seen as a measure of development. Recently, measures were put in place to minimize the cost of energy as part of industrialization objectives for “Vision 2020” [42–44]. Fig. 1 shows the complete process of FFB production process [45].

In 2011, MYR 83 billion worth of palm oil was exported worldwide by palm oil-producing nations [46]. Malaysia contributed to 20.2 and 21.25 million metric tons of world palm oil production in 2013 and 2014, respectively [47]. The Malaysian Government recognized that the availability and stability of energy have the utmost significance in stimulating the growth of the economy. It is for this reason that it introduced a four-fuel strategy, namely, coal, natural gas, hydropower, and petroleum, in the early 1980s to reduce petroleum dependency. Recently renewable energy sources were incorporated as the fifth fuel and therefore made it an option or alternative to other sources [46]. Malaysia’s palm oil plantation increased exponentially from 54,000 to 5 million hectares between 1960 and 2011. Table 2 gives a list of palm oil mills in Malaysia [48].

The Government, through the Ministry of Energy in conjunction with Green Technology and Water, is targeting 800 MW of biomass power to be generated by 2020 out of which 500 MW should from palm biomass [49]. Fig. 2 shows the projections.

Table 3 shows the amount of electricity generated by Malaysia from palm oil wastes since 2014 [31,34,36,51].

Irresponsible disposal of Palm oil waste is causing an unavoidable economic burden on the societies and industries that deal with oil palm production. Studies suggest that one ton of palm oil fresh fruit bunch generates around 50%–70% of its weight in Palm oil mill effluent [49]. The waste treatment solutions do demand monetary input which is seen as a liability. Therefore, most of the palm oil industry invests little to nothing in their wastewater management. As practice becomes common, it renders the waste that is eventually discharged to be improperly treated, and this trend is increasingly becoming common in developing countries. These activities cannot be fully eradicated as companies will be less diligent in investing in something they deem a loss. An incentive must be placed to entice industries to adopt sustainable waste disposal. A solution that bridges the industries’ economic concerns and the sustainable need for the environment secretly lies in the palm oil waste itself. The waste from palm oil has been known to contain a high level of organic content. This makes it a suitable candidate to produce biogas [11]. Most palm oil mills endorse the open pond waste treatment system (OPWTS) [64]. The government over-watch strategy regulates the treatment process in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, where it is reported that around 70%–85% of the mills have adopted OPWTS. Although it can be assumed that these regulations are observed due to government enforcement [11], in Malaysia, the Government has started to incentivize the utilization of biogas, and this creates a win-win situation for both the palm oil industry and the Government [65].

OPWTS as a biological treatment is preferred due to its low cost and its less reliance on mechanical inputs [66]. The system includes ponds that allow the palm oil waste to undergo anaerobic disintegration, which helps to decompose the harmful compounds in the solution. Biogas is produced as a by-product of the slow reaction, and this presents a solution to the economic disadvantages that are normally associated with POME waste discharge [49]. The digestive process in the pond happens in a series of stages. It starts with the anaerobic stage, where bacterial action helps to disintegrate the organic and inorganic contents of the waste. This reduces both the biological and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD) of the effluent [65]. Afterwards, the waste is transferred to aerobic and facultative ponds to further reduce the harmful compounds and make the effluent reach the standard quality for discharged waste. Although both processes are often integrated into one system, both have pros and cons, which are outlined in Table 5.

Utilization of biogas for the pond system is done by sealing the ponds with an airtight fabric material which helps trap all the methane produced during the anaerobic process [49]. Other methods that are more effective but not very common include the more expensive POME anaerobic digester, which includes a mechanized stirring feature that speeds up the anaerobic process and efficiently traps the methane gas produced [67]. Throughout the oil extraction process, ample effort is put into oil reclamation from the effluent with the use of a separator to ensure maximum oil yield from the raw bunches. But after all the processing, the oil constitutes only 22.5% of the overall matter of the palms, and the remainder 77.5% makes up the palm bio-matter waste [68]. The ratio of POME generation to CPO production can be estimated from a simple illustration given in Fig. 4 which indicates that the ratio is often more than 3:1.

Palm oil production has garnered a bad reputation regarding the sustainability of the process and is one of the leading causes of deforestation and the destruction of biodiversity. Many concerned regulatory boards, such as the ones in the European Union, have become influenced to draw strict regulations on palm oil grown on land that was occupied by forests, putting much emphasis on energy regeneration from the POME waste [69]. Biogas, which is rich in methane content, is not properly utilized in most mills; the wastage contributes to the Global increase in GHG [70]. To combat this problem, the biogas captured will be utilized in electricity generation or as an alternative boiler fuel to replace palm kernel shells which are less efficient. Either way, this will greatly improve overall palm oil production [71]. Highly processed biogas from POME has about 80%–90% of methane content, which is comparable to methane content in conventional natural gas and thus makes it a viable option to be directly streamed into the national gas supply grid to reduce the dependency on fossil-derived gases [72]. Methane capturing helps to reduce GHG, and by this method, about 20–60 kWh of energy/ton FFB can be captured, which contributes to reducing GHG of about 110–170 kg carbon dioxide equ/ton FFB. The energy obtained from the POME biogas retention process, when used to generate electricity, subsidizes the energy consumed by the production facility. A mill that produces around 40 t of FFB per hour will have a potential capacity to produce around 0.1–1.5 megawatts of electricity. Therefore, we can conclude that when effluent palm oil mills are utilized in a sustainable way, it results in a yield of renewable energy which can be used to satisfy the power needs of a mill and make the process sustainable. It is forecasted that in Malaysia, around 500 t of methane could be produced if all the palm oil mills practice biogas catchment. This methane could produce energy that is equivalent to the energy produced by around 800 million litres of diesel [11]. The potential electrical power expected from this peak yield is estimated at 3.2 million MWh. This power can be used to support around 700,000 homes. Consequently, the advent of sustainable POME biogas generation will boost the country’s plan to reduce the national grid’s dependency on fossil fuels [11].

Most conventional palm oil mills have, in one way or another, adopted self-sufficient practices. It is very common for mills to combust residual oil palm fibres and shells to generate fuel for the boilers [64]. It can be argued that from the energy yield listed in the paragraph above, mills stand to gain a lot more economically when they adopt energy generation from biogas. This trend is slowly picking up among palm oil mills in Malaysia thanks to Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS), an initiative by the Malaysian Government to reward and encourage industries that contribute to sustainable technologies [65]. Such incentives include tax reliefs, removal of import duties and discounted machinery sales for participants. The utilization of POME for renewable energy generation helps reduce the contamination of rivers and forest drainage paths, leading to the conservation of threatened wildlife [72]. The energy generated can bring economic advantages to the palm oil industry by promising a subsidy on the energy demand of a mill [21]. This will especially assist local and small-time farmers. The aboriginal communities residing around many palm oil plantations will also benefit as the energy generated can supply their rural communities and improve their standards of living. This will solve the long-standing dispute between corporations and forest communities [73].

The palm oil industry has been the user of a major and efficient oilseed crop around the world. The two main powerhouses for palm oil production are Malaysia and Indonesia. These major powerhouses alone produced a revenue of USD 40 billion in 2012 [21]. In Malaysia, palm oil wastes are one of the major industrial solid wastes. There are challenges associated with the palm oil industry in Malaysia in terms of waste management. However, these challenges also provide a window of opportunities to utilize these wastes for renewable energy, thus saving costs and increasing the total profit earned in palm oil industries. As the energy consumption in Malaysia increases by 8.1% annually, more energy resources are needed for the increasing demand [21]. Moreover, the challenges also open job opportunities for the Malaysian population. Yet the challenge remains of managing the surplus waste from increased production; oil palm mills must adopt a sustainable waste management technique. But then again, the question remains, do these mills have access to proper waste management methods?

The oil palm industry produces tonnes of waste every year. In Malaysia alone, 19.7 million tonnes of crude palm oil (CPO) have been produced [68]. While this is an impressive figure, what about the waste? In the oil palm industry, there are numerous types of waste produced in the making of oil palm, such as EFB, Oil Palm Shell (OPSh), Mesocarp Fibers, POME, Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), Palm Kernel Cake (PKC), and Decanter Cake (DC). These wastes can be utilized for different purposes. Most of these wastes are organic wastes. So, burying them is not the best option because burying organic waste will produce methane gas. Methane gas is known to be 20 times more potent than greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. However, these wastes can be reused as a source of renewable energy for multiple applications. As for waste management, oil palm waste can be categorized into two uses—agricultural use and non-agricultural use [57,74]. The Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) can be brought back to the plantation area to be utilized as mulch [72]. It can be applied directly to the land [37]. Empty Fruit Bunches can also be dewatered and utilized to generate electricity or used as organic diesel. Mesocarp Fibers can be utilized as a blend of animal feed. POME contains carotene, which can be utilized in pharmaceuticals. The biogas emitted from POME can be used to generate electricity. Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) is a substance with a texture of greyish white colour. It is produced when extraction of kernel oil production occurs [36]. Since it is rich in carbohydrates, it can be used as feedstock. Decanter Cake (DC) is a palm oil side product that is produced during the extraction phase [32]. The majority of Decanter Cake (DC) can be used as fertilizer or soil cover materials. The utilization of Decanter Cake (DC) as fertilizer is brilliant as it enhances crop nutrient uptake [75]. For non-agricultural use, Empty Fruit Bunches can be used as paper-making pulp. In Japan, Empty Fruit Bunches are used to generate electricity through biomass power plants. In Malaysia, a biomass-fired steam generator plant was used to replace fuel oil with oil palm biomass [76]. The Oil Palm Shell (OPSh) can be used as fuel for boilers. The combustion of OPSh produces oil palm ash which is rich in minerals that can be utilized for various uses. Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA) is also a by-product of solid waste used as fuel to generate electricity. Thus, the waste from the palm oil industry can be used for multiple applications. The management of palm oil waste is not a very big issue. But the amount of waste produced is massive.

As for feasibility, these wastes can be managed if the right steps are executed. Although the waste is massive, they can still be turned into proper renewable energy [75]. These wastes are to be collected and transported to biomass plants to be put to good use. For this to occur, the biomass plant should be placed in a suitable location, as transportation costs might increase if the plant is in an improper area [6]. The main aim of using this renewable energy is to reduce spending on fuel. Thus, increasing the transportation cost defeats the purpose of the whole idea. As for rural areas, the biomass plant location must be chosen even more carefully since there may not be a proper route to access certain parts of these areas. For things to become easier, the biomass plant should be placed nearest to the mills and the roads [77].

The study evaluates the feasibility of energy projects that use palm oil waste by considering technical, economic, environmental, and socio-regional factors. Key criteria include resource availability, technological suitability, economic feasibility, environmental impact, socioeconomic benefits, and policy and regulatory support. The research focuses on regions with high production potential, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and parts of Africa, and identifies areas with high production potential. It also assesses the economic feasibility of the project, analysing factors like initial capital costs, payback periods, government incentives, and fuel cost savings. The study also highlights the socioeconomic benefits of palm oil waste-to-energy projects, particularly in rural areas, and the readiness of regions or industries to adopt them.

The study examines palm oil waste generated during production and its potential for renewable energy generation. It categorises waste as solid and liquid biomass, each with specific energy applications. EFB are fibrous residues rich in lignocellulosic material, suitable for direct combustion, gasification, or pellet production. Palm Kernel Shells (PKS) are hard shells from palm kernels, used in industrial boilers and biochar production. POME is a liquid waste with organic compounds suitable for anaerobic digestion, producing biogas (methane) for on-site electricity or heat. Mesocarp fibre, extracted from fruit pulp, is used as boiler fuel in palm oil mills to support self-sufficient energy systems.

This case study focuses on a cost-effective comparison between electricity generated by palm oil waste and electricity generated from a standalone diesel electric generation. The research area covered for this analysis is the rural area of Marudi, Sarawak. The location of this research area is 145 km away from the nearest city, Miri, Sarawak and roughly 2 h and 20 min of the journey using the road. Since the research area covers small towns like Long Lama, Long Miri, Long Atip and their surrounding areas, ten schools located nearby are considered for this analysis. The entire town can be reached either by using 4 Wheel Drive on land or by boat as there is no road connected to all the towns. The tarred roads link only up to the Long Lama Ferry Point. The road that is usually used by 4 Wheel Drive is through the logging roads. The journey can be challenging, with the possibility of rough rides in some places. One of the towns known as Long Lama has a ferry point that is called Long Lama Ferry Point. This ferry point is the one that helps vehicles to cross the Baram River to Long Lama town. This research area has trouble with electricity generation since the only way for electricity to be generated is by using diesel fuel, for which the consumption is high and costly. The analysis is done on the possibility of using the waste from palm oil as the source of electricity generation for all the towns nearby. This is because there are several palm oil mills located in the surrounding area, and there are palm oil plantations as well on the outskirts. Thus, the high amount of waste that is produced by all the mills is considered a source for the biogas plant to generate electricity. Fig. 5 shows the investigated research area of Sarawak, Malaysia.

Biomass, including palm biomass, has been studied as an alternative source of renewable energy. However, the heating value, emission characteristics, and combustion dynamics vary depending on the technology and conditions used. Palm biomass provides a higher heating value (HHV) than other sources, provided it is conditioned and processed. Raw palm biomass can provide up to 23 MJ/kg of HHV, while torrefied palm biomass can generate 25.6 MJ/kg. Conditioning palm biomass to biochar can yield up to 24.5 MJ/kg of HHV. Compared to common agricultural waste biomass, palm biomass produces 14–21 MJ/kg of HHV. Despite its potential, concrete evidence of generating electricity from palm biomass is scarce. Over 50% of palm mill owners are reluctant to switch to a palm biomass-based electricity generation facility due to cost and skepticism. Awareness about sustainable and circular economic growth is needed.

Palm oil waste, particularly EFB and POME, presents a promising renewable energy source in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. However, several technical, environmental, economic, and policy challenges need to be addressed to make it a sustainable and scalable solution. These include high moisture content in biomass; collection, transport, and logistics; technological limitations; emissions and environmental issues; financial and investment barriers; policy and regulatory gaps; and competing uses of biomass waste.

High moisture content in biomass reduces combustion efficiency and energy output, increasing drying costs and lowering calorific value. Solutions include using drying technologies, co-firing, or anaerobic digestion that work well with wet biomass.

Limited access to appropriate technologies can hinder efficient energy conversion, leading to inconsistent energy generation and higher maintenance. Hybrid systems, technology transfer, and capacity building can help address these issues.

Financial and investment barriers, policy and regulatory gaps, and competing uses of biomass waste can also impact the sustainability and scalability of biomass energy production.

Palm oil waste can be used to generate energy, offering economic and environmental benefits. It provides a low-cost, locally available resource, reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, supports rural development, lowers energy costs for remote communities, and creates new employment opportunities. This renewable approach also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane from POME and avoiding CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion. It also addresses agricultural waste management issues and aligns circular economic goals and global climate commitments.

Palm oil waste can be converted into renewable energy through various technologies. Anaerobic digestion, which breaks down organic matter in oxygen-free conditions, reduces methane emissions and provides clean energy for electricity or heat generation. Combustion and co-firing, which burns solid biomass waste like Empty Fruit Bunches and Palm Kernel Shells, offers moderate efficiency but may require emission controls. Gasification converts palm biomass into syngas at high temperatures with limited oxygen, offering cleaner, more controllable energy output. Pyrolysis, which heats palm biomass without oxygen, produces bio-oil, gas, and biochar, contributing to energy sustainability and agricultural productivity. These technologies support a circular economy and strengthen the sustainability of the palm oil industry, especially when decentralized and tailored to local needs.

Palm oil waste can be used for electricity generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional palm oil production produces large volumes of waste, including empty fruit bunches, palm kernel shells, and palm oil mill effluent. These wastes can be converted into energy using methods like anaerobic digestion, combustion, or gasification, reducing harmful emissions. Anaerobic digestion captures methane for biogas, preventing methane emissions over 25 times more potent than CO₂. Palm biomass as a renewable energy source reduces reliance on fossil fuels, supporting carbon neutrality and improving air quality. This makes it an environmentally sustainable solution for energy production in palm oil-producing regions.

The implementation of palm oil waste-to-energy technology faces several challenges, including infrastructure limitations, high initial investment costs, limited access to funding, and logistical challenges. Infrastructure limitations are common in rural or developing regions, where modern facilities and waste-processing equipment are lacking. The high initial investment costs can deter private investors or small-scale producers. Limited access to funding and financing is also a challenge, as potential project developers face risks, long payback periods, and regulatory uncertainty. Additionally, transporting bulky biomass over long distances without proper infrastructure can increase costs and reduce efficiency. To overcome these challenges, government support, public-private partnerships, and the development of cost-effective, decentralized energy systems are needed.

Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand are the top global producers of palm oil, each adopting different strategies for managing waste and promoting renewable energy generation. Malaysia has a proactive approach, promoting palm oil biomass and biogas for power generation through initiatives led by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) and national policies like the National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan (NREPAP). The government also offers feed-in tariffs under the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) to encourage renewable energy investment. Indonesia, the world’s largest palm oil producer, faces challenges in policy enforcement, infrastructure, and environmental regulation. However, progress is being made with increased investment in biogas plants and collaboration with international agencies. Thailand has made notable progress in integrating palm oil waste into its renewable energy mix, particularly in community-based bioenergy projects. All three countries share the opportunity to further develop sustainable bioenergy systems by learning from each other’s strengths.

One of the primary motivations of this study is to mitigate the environmental harm caused by indiscriminate dumping of palm oil waste into water bodies or open land. Improper disposal leads to water pollution, eutrophication, and methane emissions from anaerobic decomposition. An alternative is energy recovery through controlled combustion or thermochemical conversion. However, it is important to assess how hydrocarbon emissions from palm oil biomass combustion compare to conventional fossil fuels.

Studies indicate that while burning palm biomass emits carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and particulate matter (PM), the total hydrocarbon emissions especially unburnt hydrocarbons are significantly lower than those from coal or diesel combustion. Furthermore, because biomass is considered carbon-neutral over its lifecycle, the net CO₂ emissions are substantially reduced. For instance, steam combustion of empty fruit bunches produces approximately 30%–40% lower CO₂ emissions per kWh generated compared to coal, and emits negligible sulfur oxides (SO_x), reducing acid rain potential.

Therefore, converting palm oil waste into electricity not only recovers energy but also reduces dependency on high-emission fossil fuels, contributing to climate mitigation strategies in Malaysia and beyond.

In this paper, we have reviewed and compared the state of electricity generation from biomass in various palm oil-producing countries. The advantages and disadvantages of using palm oil waste for the generation of electricity have been discussed. We then reported on our study of electricity generation from palm oil waste in a rural area of Marudi, Sarawak. In this area, 30,000 people, as well as 10 schools, are currently using diesel to generate electricity. This costs MYR 2000 per day. It is shown that using EFB from palm oil waste to generate electricity is cheaper in comparison. Biowaste is a renewable resource—its use in electricity generation also reduces GHG. More case studies like ours can be carried out in other rural areas of East Malaysia. Similar studies should be conducted in countries that produce palm oil. Future work may consider capital and running costs for the power plant. The reader might note that we have not done studies on the power system. For example, will energy storage be employed, and if so, what should be the optimum size of such storage? One also needs to study the interaction of the microgrid connected to the main grid. The future of power systems is a smart grid; as such, a grid can handle decentralized power generation from renewables. There are many aspects of research on smart grids. Although some studies have been reported on the integration of solar and wind power in a Borneo-wide grid, little work seems to have been reported on the integration of electricity generated from palm oil waste.

Converting palm oil waste into renewable electricity represents a sustainable and economically viable pathway for addressing both energy needs and environmental challenges in palm oil-producing regions. While the energy potential of palm biomass is substantial, realizing its full value requires overcoming infrastructural, financial, and policy-related obstacles. Targeted strategies such as government incentives, investment in decentralized technologies, public-private partnerships, and community-based energy systems can significantly enhance adoption. Furthermore, raising awareness and promoting technology transfer can support rural development, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigate climate change impacts. As Malaysia and its regional counterparts continue to lead in palm oil production, leveraging palm oil waste for electricity generation offers a strategic opportunity to transition toward a low-carbon, sustainable energy future.