Miscanthus
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Bioenergy > Feedstocks > Cellulosic feedstocks > Miscanthus
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Miscanthus is a genus of tall perrenial grasses native to subtropical and tropical regions of Africa and southern Asia, which has also been used as an ornamental plant in Japan. A sterile hybrid of miscanthus, Miscanthus x Giganteus is being evaluated in Europe due to its high biomass yield, low mineral content and rapid growth.[1] Miscanthus can be harvested every year by sugar cane harvester and can be grown in cool climates. [1]
Contents |
History
Miscanthus has seen trials as a biofuel in Europe since the early 1980's. [2]
Sustainability
Land Degradation
The rhizomes can be broken up, collected and planted using existing agricultural equipment such as potato harvesters and planters. Irrigation in the first year and protection from frost improves the establishment rate. The crop is normally harvested from year 2 onwards, but yields continue to improve until they level off around the 5th or 6th year. [3] Fertilizer needs appear to be relatively low, depending upon local soil fertility.
Social Sustainability
Look here for information on employment, job creation, adverse effects on indigenous peoples, gender issues, etc.
Publications
News
- Miscanthus can meet U.S. biofuels goal using less land than corn or switchgrass, 30 July 2008 press release by University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana: "In the largest field trial of its kind in the United States, researchers have determined that the giant perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus outperforms current biofuels sources – by a lot."
- "Using corn or switchgrass to produce enough ethanol to offset 20 percent of gasoline use – a current White House goal – would take 25 percent of current U.S. cropland out of food production, the researchers report. Getting the same amount of ethanol from Miscanthus would require only 9.3 percent of current agricultural acreage."
- "Because Miscanthus is a perennial grass, it also accumulates much more carbon in the soil than an annual crop such as corn or soybeans"[4]
- View the informative slideshow
- A Versatile Solution? - Growing Miscanthus for Bioenergy January/February 2007 from Renewable Energy World Magazine. "The perennial grass crop Miscanthus is particularly promising for bioenergy, as it is hardy, fast growing and efficient in its use of water." The article reviews the commercial and technological progress and compares energy yields of miscanthus and other cellulosic energy crops.
- A Solution to U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil? 25 April 2006 from Aces News, UIUC. A professor at the University of Illinois is doing trials for growing Miscanthus as an energy crop.
Notes
| Temperate feedstocks for bioenergy | edit | |
| Corn (Bioethanol) | Jojoba (biodiesel) | Prairie grasses (Bioethanol) | Rapeseed (Biodiesel) | Soy beans (Biodiesel) | Sugar beet (Bioethanol) | Sweet potato (Bioethanol) | Sweet sorghum (Bioethanol) | Switchgrass (Bioethanol) | Wheat (Bioethanol) | ||
| Bioethanol | edit | |
| Bioethanol feedstocks: Corn Bioethanol conversion technologies: | ||
| Bioenergy feedstocks | edit | |
|
Biodiesel feedstocks: Ethanol feedstocks: | ||
