Miscanthus giganteus
Encyclopedia
Miscanthus giganteus is a large perennial spoon hybrid of Miscanthus sinensis
and Miscanthus sacchariflorus
native to Japan. It is currently used in the European Union as a commercial energy crop. It is used as a source of heat and electricity, or converted into biofuel products such as ethanol.
, and thus exhibits greater photosynthetic efficiency and lower water use requirements than other kinds of plants. It has very low nutritional requirements – it has high nitrogen use efficiency and therefore is capable of growing well on barren land without the aid of heavy fertilization. M. giganteus is a sterile hybrid, and therefore propagates vegetatively through its rhizomes. This quality makes it attractive for growth in areas foreign to M. giganteus – it is a completely non-invasive species. Additional researched benefits of M. giganteus include its ability to sequester carbon into the earth.
for the production of energy either for direct combustion or through cellulosic ethanol
or other biofuel
production. Miscanthus is grown in Europe mainly for co-firing in coal power generating facilities and could supply 12% of the EU's energy need by 2050. In the United States, SunBelt Biofuels founder Phillip Jennings has worked with Mississippi State's Brian Baldwin to develop a more effective, marketable Miscanthus grass strain. SunBelt has since been renamed REPREVE Renewables and has developed a program to distribute the strain to growers, refiners, and others interested in the plant (dubbed "FREEDOM giant miscanthus", as the company hopes to reduce American dependence on foreign oil).
Some manufacturers are currently exploring the possibility of using Miscanthus grass as input for plastics and other products traditionally constructed from petroleum fuels.
Compared to other ethanol inputs, giant Miscanthus grass produces more mass overall, as well as more ethanol. For example, a typical acre of corn yields around 7.6 tons of biomass per acre and 756 gallons of ethanol. Giant Miscanthus is capable of producing up to 20 tons of biomass and 3,250 gallons of ethanol fuel.
Another major benefit of Miscanthus grass is that it is not a food crop. Corn-based ethanol, which is the version most people are familiar with, is based on creating fuel from a product that could be used to feed people. When market forces change the demand for corn, prices can fluctuate wildly, deeply affecting the ability of many to purchase food. Since Miscanthus grass is not a food crop in the western hemisphere, changes in demand will not have a direct effect on the price of food.
Comparison to timber and other grasses
Wood timber is one of the worst sources for ethanol production. At a maximum of four tons of biomass per acre, and around 520 gallons of ethanol produced, it is a relatively poor performer, compared to Miscanthuss 3,250 gallons. While this may seem like an unfair comparison, Miscanthus even outperforms other grasses, such as switchgrass, which yields around 3-6 tons of biomass and 400-900 gallons of ethanol fuel.
and University of Georgia
have committed several years and large portions of money to studying ethanol production in general. Along the way, some, such as UI, Michigan State University
, and the University of Wisconsin have dedicated entire programs to researching the benefits of Miscanthus grass as an ethanol feedstock. One such program is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) led by the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University
. Recently, with the addition of Dr. Emily Heaton, Iowa State University has also increased their research into Miscanthus x giganteus. Dr. Heaton's lab http://sites.google.com/site/heatonlabgroup/, focuses on producing dedicated energy crops.
On June 15th, 2011, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
and U.S. Senator Roy Blunt
announced a pilot program to produce miscanthus in Missouri
. http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x947029399/Southwest-Missouri-selected-as-site-for-biofuels-project
Miscanthus sinensis
Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese silver grass, Eulalia grass, maiden grass, zebra grass, Susuki grass, porcupine grass; syn. Eulalia japonica Trin., Miscanthus sinensis f. glaber Honda, Miscanthus sinensis var. gracillimus Hitchc., Miscanthus sinensis var....
and Miscanthus sacchariflorus
Miscanthus sacchariflorus
Miscanthus sacchariflorus is a grass native to temperate Asia. Culms are erect, 90–250 cm in height and 5–8 mm in diameter.- References :* * *...
native to Japan. It is currently used in the European Union as a commercial energy crop. It is used as a source of heat and electricity, or converted into biofuel products such as ethanol.
Physiology
M. giganteus is a C4 plantC4 carbon fixation
C4 carbon fixation is one of three biochemical mechanisms, along with and CAM photosynthesis, used in carbon fixation. It is named for the 4-carbon molecule present in the first product of carbon fixation in these plants, in contrast to the 3-carbon molecule products in plants. fixation is an...
, and thus exhibits greater photosynthetic efficiency and lower water use requirements than other kinds of plants. It has very low nutritional requirements – it has high nitrogen use efficiency and therefore is capable of growing well on barren land without the aid of heavy fertilization. M. giganteus is a sterile hybrid, and therefore propagates vegetatively through its rhizomes. This quality makes it attractive for growth in areas foreign to M. giganteus – it is a completely non-invasive species. Additional researched benefits of M. giganteus include its ability to sequester carbon into the earth.
Uses
Research trials being conducted in the United Kingdom, United States and Ireland are making strides towards developing Miscanthus x giganteus as a source of biomassBiomass
Biomass, as a renewable energy source, is biological material from living, or recently living organisms. As an energy source, biomass can either be used directly, or converted into other energy products such as biofuel....
for the production of energy either for direct combustion or through cellulosic ethanol
Cellulosic ethanol
Cellulosic ethanol is a biofuel produced from wood, grasses, or the non-edible parts of plants.It is a type of biofuel produced from lignocellulose, a structural material that comprises much of the mass of plants. Lignocellulose is composed mainly of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin...
or other biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
production. Miscanthus is grown in Europe mainly for co-firing in coal power generating facilities and could supply 12% of the EU's energy need by 2050. In the United States, SunBelt Biofuels founder Phillip Jennings has worked with Mississippi State's Brian Baldwin to develop a more effective, marketable Miscanthus grass strain. SunBelt has since been renamed REPREVE Renewables and has developed a program to distribute the strain to growers, refiners, and others interested in the plant (dubbed "FREEDOM giant miscanthus", as the company hopes to reduce American dependence on foreign oil).
Some manufacturers are currently exploring the possibility of using Miscanthus grass as input for plastics and other products traditionally constructed from petroleum fuels.
Productivity
Comparison to corn (ethanol)Compared to other ethanol inputs, giant Miscanthus grass produces more mass overall, as well as more ethanol. For example, a typical acre of corn yields around 7.6 tons of biomass per acre and 756 gallons of ethanol. Giant Miscanthus is capable of producing up to 20 tons of biomass and 3,250 gallons of ethanol fuel.
Another major benefit of Miscanthus grass is that it is not a food crop. Corn-based ethanol, which is the version most people are familiar with, is based on creating fuel from a product that could be used to feed people. When market forces change the demand for corn, prices can fluctuate wildly, deeply affecting the ability of many to purchase food. Since Miscanthus grass is not a food crop in the western hemisphere, changes in demand will not have a direct effect on the price of food.
Comparison to timber and other grasses
Wood timber is one of the worst sources for ethanol production. At a maximum of four tons of biomass per acre, and around 520 gallons of ethanol produced, it is a relatively poor performer, compared to Miscanthuss 3,250 gallons. While this may seem like an unfair comparison, Miscanthus even outperforms other grasses, such as switchgrass, which yields around 3-6 tons of biomass and 400-900 gallons of ethanol fuel.
Funding and research
Large colleges, such as the University of Illinois, Mississippi State UniversityMississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
and University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
have committed several years and large portions of money to studying ethanol production in general. Along the way, some, such as UI, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, and the University of Wisconsin have dedicated entire programs to researching the benefits of Miscanthus grass as an ethanol feedstock. One such program is the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) led by the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. Recently, with the addition of Dr. Emily Heaton, Iowa State University has also increased their research into Miscanthus x giganteus. Dr. Heaton's lab http://sites.google.com/site/heatonlabgroup/, focuses on producing dedicated energy crops.
On June 15th, 2011, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack
Thomas James "Tom" Vilsack is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and presently the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He served as the 40th Governor of the state of Iowa. He was first elected in 1998 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002...
and U.S. Senator Roy Blunt
Roy Blunt
Roy D. Blunt is the junior United States Senator from Missouri. He is a member of the Republican Party. His Senate seat was previously held by Republican Kit Bond, until his retirement....
announced a pilot program to produce miscanthus in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. http://www.joplinglobe.com/local/x947029399/Southwest-Missouri-selected-as-site-for-biofuels-project
External links
- Investing in Alternative - Miscanthus Investment Research
- Mississippi State University press release announcing the viability of Miscanthus grass as a biofuel feedstock
- Miscanthus Study at SERC at Mississippi State University
- Miscanthus Study at the University of Illinois
- US Can meet US Biofuel goals using less land - A study showing how Miscanthus can create more ethanol with less space
- New EnergyFarms US, Canada and EU developer and commercial supplier of Miscanthus
- Miscanthus Crops pictures
- Miscanthus
- Miscanthus x giganteus - as an energy crop - Miscanthus Research at the University of Illinois
- NovaBiom Pictures of commercially grown Miscanthus in Europe