Hydrogen (H2) production via biomass gasification has demonstrated to be a viable method to obtain environmental-friendly fuel. In this paper, steady-state modeling of palm kernel shell (PKS) steam gasification pilot-plant is developed and validated using experimental data. The process optimization study for the gasification of PKS utilizing the coal bottom ash as a catalyst is conducted in the continuous advanced fluidized bed technology pilot-scale gasification plant to determine the optimum conditions to produce maximum H2 and syngas composition. The optimum conditions for maximum H2 and syngas composition are a temperature of 625 °C, PKS particle size of 1�2 mm, and coal bottom ash to PKS percentage of 7.5 . The optimum operating condition results are then validated in the pilot-scale gasification system. Steady-state simulation of the pilot scale biomass gasification plant is then developed using Aspen Plus® and validated using the experimental data. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.