Readiness for Transforming Agricultural Waste into Bioenergy in Malaysia: A Review
Abstract
Malaysia’s agricultural sector generates extensive amounts of biomass waste annually, primarily from palm oil, rice, rubber, and coconut production. This biomass waste, largely disposed of through environmentally harmful practices such as open burning and landfilling, represents a significant untapped resource for renewable energy production. Converting agricultural waste into bioenergy offers a sustainable pathway for Malaysia to achieve its renewable energy goals, mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and support rural economic development. This review examines Malaysia’s current capacity and readiness to utilize agricultural waste for bioenergy, assessing existing waste resources, predominant waste management practices, and major barriers to bioenergy adoption. Key challenges identified include high initial capital costs, limited technical expertise, regulatory complexities, and low public awareness, which collectively hinder the scalability of bioenergy solutions. To address these challenges, the review proposes several targeted strategies, including the adoption of advanced bioenergy technologies such as anaerobic digestion, biomass pelletization, and biochar production; the establishment of supportive policy measures like bioenergy-specific subsidies and carbon pricing; and the promotion of public-private partnerships and community engagement initiatives. Through these interventions, Malaysia can effectively leverage its agricultural biomass resources, contributing to its energy independence and environmental sustainability goals. This paper underscores the potential of bioenergy from agricultural waste as a viable renewable energy solution, providing a pathway for Malaysia to align its economic and environmental objectives.
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