Fuel From Giant Grass

 A newly developed grass that grows 13 feet tall could be used as a relatively clean source of alternative energy, scientists say.

The grass, known as giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), is a hybrid developed from an Asian variety. It produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide when burned as it is able to remove from the air when it grows.

The grass, related to sugar cane, grows rapidly in cool weather. In winter, its leaves drop, leaving a tall bamboo-like stem that could be harvested and burned to generate electricity. The plant stores nutrients in an underground rhizome that resprouts the next growing season.

Scientists say the energy ratio of input to output is less than 0.2 percent for the grass, while the ratio is more than 0.8 for ethanol and biodiesel from canola, two other plant-derived energy sources.

Miscanthus is also easy to grow. It requires little water and minimal fertilizer and thrives in untilled fields, said doctoral student Emily Heaton at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

If 10 percent of the land area in Illinois were devoted to Miscanthus, it could provide 50 percent of the state's electricity needs, said Heaton, shown above with a test crop.

The research was led by Stephen Long, a professor of crop sciences and of plant biology.

-- LiveScience Staff

Amazing Images: Science & Nature Photos from Our Readers

Credit:  Kwame Ross