Cleaner Production Opportunities for Improvement of Carbon Saving in the Production of Coconut Biodiesel

Two potential cleaner production opportunities for improving carbon savings in the production of coconut biodiesel under Philippine context are investigated. These opportunities are (1) utilization of coconut biomass residue in the biodiesel production process and (2) options for land use change under Philippine setting. Using up to date and regions specific agricultural production yields, estimates show that utilization of waste coconut residues such as shells and husks for heat and power generation in the diesel production increases carbon savings in the range of 0.47-0.72 tC/ha-yr. This can be considered a viable option to improve carbon savings by as much as 80% as compared with no residue utilization. Conversion of lands for the cultivation of coconut plantations may aggravate or improve carbon savings depending on the original land use category. Grasslands and degraded lands when converted to coconut plantation contribute an estimated additional carbon savings of 3.4 to 3.6 t C/h-yr or as much as 800% higher than what could be gained when there is no land use conversion. Conversion of forests on the other hand may result in the negative carbon savings or debts of about -3.6 t C/ha-yr. As a carbon mitigation strategy, the plantation of coconut in grasslands and degraded lands can improve carbon savings by biogenic carbon sequestration and as feedstock source in biodiesel production.