Riam Project

Avoiding methane emissions from a palm oil mill and generating clean energy

0.1 THE PROJECT

To extract oil from the fruit of the palm oil trees - the world’s main source of vegetable oil - the Riam mill generates a water pollution of almost 700,000 population-equivalent which in turn, emits massive fugitive methane emissions.

The mill made a no deforestation and no peatland destruction pledge in 2015.

Location:
Central Kalimantan, INDONESIA
Biogas-to-energy:
Yes - 2.5 MWe grid connected in planning
Carbon credits:
40 to 55,000 VCU/year from capturing methane in wastewater treatment and 20 to 25,000 VCU/year by replacing electricity produced from fossil fuel 1.2 to 1.9 million verified emission reduction over 21 years
Project awards:
NA
Standard:
Carbon Standard 
methodology:
Crediting period:
1st, 01/01/2025 to 31/12/2032 - twice renewable
Status:
Final negotiation stage
Gree’s role:
Construction; Carbon development; Energy asset development
Gree_Riam

0.2 THE SOLUTION

The Riam project will treat the industrial waste water of a palm oil mill, capture its fugitive methane emissions, and in the next stage of development  transform this environmental liability into renewable energy. The power generated is then distributed by the national utility to 14 surrounding villages.

Methane capture in wastewater treatment cuts up to 90% of the carbon emissions of a palm oil mill.

The expected verified emissions reduction is more than 40,000 tCO2 eq/year.

See Our Impact

 

Why a Project in the Palm Oil Supply Chain?

Gree only partners with palm oil supply chains that are deforestation and peatland clearance free

The unsustainable production of palm oil is a driver of deforestation, peatland destruction, and climate change. Yet, palm oil is used daily by billions and is in about 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets, from snacks to soaps and toothpaste. Global demand is expecting to rise by more than 5% p.a. in the coming decade, putting even more pressure on natural ecosystems. 

Palm oil trees are incredibly productive, it will require anything between 4 to 10 times more land to get the same amount of vegetable oil from other major oil like soybean or rapeseed. Alternative vegetable oil production will therefore only shift the threat to other geographies, habitats and species, whilst still posing the same destruction of ecosystems but on an even wider scale. Palm oil does not have to be destructive and can be produced responsibly as a part of sustainable development. That is why we remain committed to supporting sustainable palm oil.

“Palm oil is here to stay and we urgently need concerted action to make palm oil production more sustainable, ensuring that governments, producers and the supply chain honour their sustainability commitments.” warned IUCN (International Union for Nature Conservation) director general, Inger Andersen.

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Explore SDGs

Our Riam site delivers on these Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 3
Improve air quality by avoiding hydrogen sulfide emissions and by preventing ground-level ozone formation, exposure to these gases can pose public health risks
Goal 6
Treat almost 700,000 population-equivalent of industrial wastewater
Goal 7
Provide clean and reliable electricity in underserved rural areas
Goal 13
Cuts methane emissions, one of the most effective way to limit global warming as reaffirmed by the latest IPCC report
Goal 17
Mobilizes multi-million dollar sustainable infrastructure investment in rural areas

0.3 INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION

Gree is the only B-Corp certified biogas solution provider in Asia

Gree Energy is B Corp certified and meets the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. Our team has over five decades of combined experience in carbon emission expertise and resilient and regenerative food supply chains. We use world class industry standards including VCS, IFC PS, IRIS+, and the SDG and our business model is supported by prominent international development agencies and organizations such as SCAF, FFEM, AFD, UKAID and IRENA.

Learn more about Gree Energy

0.4 STATS OF OUR IMPACT - TARGETS

Climate Change

More than 60,000 tonnes of CO2e avoided (equivalent to emissions of about 13,000 cars annually)

Energy For All

16,000,000 kwh delivered, enough to supply 32,000 people with clean and reliable power

Clean Water

700,000 population - equivalent of industrial wastewater treated

80%+ organic pollution removed

Clean Air

24,000 tons of hydrogen sulfide emissions avoided

3,500 tons of methane emissions avoided

Partnerships

6 Million USD investment into rural area of Indonesia

0.6 Riam Timeline

Riam project start of construction is expected in 2024

2024

  • Start of construction methane avoidance facilities
  • Verra’s validation
  • Engage into long-term power distribution agreement with the national utility

2025

Commissioning methane avoidance facilities

2026

  • Commissioning power plant
  • First issuance of verified carbon credits

2025 - 2044

Project in operations

2024

  • Start of construction methane avoidance facilities
  • Verra’s validation
  • Engage into long-term power distribution agreement with the national utility

2025

Commissioning methane avoidance facilities

2026

  • Commissioning power plant
  • First issuance of verified carbon credits

2025 - 2044

Project in operations

0.7 THE PROJECT HOST

Bumitama Gunaya Abadi is a fully owned Indonesian subsidiary of Bumitama Agri, a palm oil group listed on the Singapore Exchange since 2012. It operates 15 mills in Indonesia and produces 1.2 million tonnes of crude palm oil. The Riam palm oil mill has been operational since 2009.

  • Responsible Palm Oil (RSPO) certification commitment of all mills by 2024
  • Completed 99.6% traceability as of 2022. 100% targeted in 2023
  • No deforestation and no peatland clearing pledge since 2015

 

Gree’s ESG safeguard standards :

  • Satellite monitoring and spatial analysis of the mill’s supply chain to verify risk on deforestation and peatland development
  • Compliance and integrity analysis to assess any reputational risk

Gree implements ESG safeguards on each project to strengthen the framework of a project, program or specific action and manage risks concerning the environment, governance and society.

Did you know the Riam Project will reduce more than 60,000 tons of CO2 eq per year? Contact us to see how we can help you decarbonize agriculture and food supply chains.