The potential of coconut toddy for use as a feedstock for bioethanol production in Tuvalu

In Tuvalu the sap from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is known as “toddy”. This paper examines toddyʹs current use as a foodstuff, the contribution of the sale of toddy products to household incomes and the potential use of sour toddy as a sustainable feedstock for bioethanol production for use as a petroleum substitute in Tuvalu. oductivity and current uses of coconut woodlands are also assessed. At current levels of production and use, less than 1% of coconut palms are used for toddy production by 1133 producers. Over 5 dm3 of fresh toddy are produced annually and average toddy production per tree ranges from 1.7 to 4.3 dm3 d−1. le of toddy products provides 22–24% of annual household income for producers. oduction of bioethanol from toddy has been demonstrated by the NGO Alofa Tuvalu. However, it is not currently cost competitive with petroleum, although in terms of productivity, the current toddy harvest could produce enough bioethanol to replace 31% of the nationʹs petroleum. evident that there is a large untapped biomass energy potential in Tuvalu which should be utilised if the Government of Tuvalu is going to fulfil their commitment to be carbon neutral by 2020.