Recent study shows that switchgrass may be a more viable source of biofuel than previously thought
A paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports that new breeds of switchgrass yields 20-30 percent higher than earlier strains. This shows that it may be a more viable plant source to produce ethanol than previously imagined. The document states that these newer breeds produce 540 percent more energy than the energy consumed in its production, up from a previous study that estimated yield at 343 percent.
Kennet Vogel, from the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service based at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, said that the results increased because the study was made at farm scale. He also expects higher outputs when selecting crops specifically for energy production, because they were using plants developed for pasture and conservation.
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[Source: AFP via Domestic Fuel]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mort 12:26PM (1/10/2008)
If they mowed it, processed it, and delivered it with renewable energy sources the would get a higher EROEI. Why not harvest it on windy days with a train track system using wind turbines, and process it in the summer w/ solar? I'll tell you why, it isn't a priority because everything is done according to how much money they can make, not how much net energy. Same goes for algae based fuel. Funny, I heard there were algae blooms at the end of the Mississippi from all the runoff. Face it, nobody in authority cares about the future.
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Tim 12:46PM (1/10/2008)
I hope switchgrass is not an invasive species like kudzu. What a mess this plant has become. http://www.jjanthony.com/kudzu/
Ever read the children’s book:
The king, the mice and the cheese?
This little book was written to teach children to beware of Unintended Consequences or what the CIA and Ron Paul refer to as "Blow Back."
I guess the Republicrats/Democans can’t even read a little children’s book.
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BlackbirdHighway 1:14PM (1/10/2008)
Switchgrass is the stuff that was growing on the prairies in North America long before humans came along. Actually, we're the invasive species.
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Noz 1:20PM (1/10/2008)
MORT:
You are 100% correct....nobody does care. It's been like this for decades. Just IMAGINE all the resources man has wasted over the years. Imagine the amount of fuel, pollution, energy that has been simply pissed away during wars, etc...
Honestly, humans do not deserve or have the right to exist. Seriously...if there is all-mighty...which I'm not sure there is anymore....I honestly don't have any idea why we are still around.
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BoomBoom 1:25PM (1/10/2008)
Who would have thought that a positive message about switchgrass could evoke such intense responses about God, Humanity and Kudzu...
Good Fun.
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Mort 2:07PM (1/10/2008)
And I will strike down with great fury and vengeance upon the evil petro-wastrels, and they shall know that I am the, er, never mind.
If god doesn't get us nature will. Don't worry, we'll get everything we have coming and then some.
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Snowdog 6:19PM (1/10/2008)
So maybe there is an ethanol source that isn't a complete boondoggle, but still how much food crop land will go to growing fuel.
Better than corn juice (and its piddly 30% energy net), but I am not ready to cheer for switchgrass yet.
I still think overall the ethanol industry is a complete boondoggle, from multi-billion dollar subsidies, to CAFE credits for the big three to produce E85 capable vehicles that lose about 30% of their mileage on E85. Friends bought a Dodge Avenger. On E85 it gets 13/20 mpg. Or large SUV gas mileage. There goes that 30% energy gain.
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Tim 3:20PM (1/10/2008)
All those who believe that man is the invasive species, please stop being hypocritical and save the planet by reducing the surplus population...
go jump off a cliff!!!
Too cowardly? Then SHUT YOUR TRAPS!
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BlackbirdHighway 3:42PM (1/10/2008)
I happen to LIKE being an invasive species.
I never said it was a bad thing, just pointing out that the switchgrass was here first, unlike kudzu, which really is nasty stuff.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 8:33AM (1/11/2008)
"Honestly, humans do not deserve or have the right to exist. Seriously...if there is all-mighty...which I'm not sure there is anymore....I honestly don't have any idea why we are still around."
That is why this site is such a chore to dig through some times. Anyway, hurry up and crunch the data and choose your theory: Theism or Atheism. My study so far is trending towards Atheism, so that's the model I'm working with.
But seriously, native grasses with a very positive energy balance? That's a good danged start. Believe it or not, there ARE some folks with a little authority that care about the future. You need to go meet them; you might find some hope and a reason to be around tomorrow.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 8:33AM (1/11/2008)
"Honestly, humans do not deserve or have the right to exist. Seriously...if there is all-mighty...which I'm not sure there is anymore....I honestly don't have any idea why we are still around."
That is why this site is such a chore to dig through some times. Anyway, hurry up and crunch the data and choose your theory: Theism or Atheism. My study so far is trending towards Atheism, so that's the model I'm working with.
But seriously, native grasses with a very positive energy balance? That's a good danged start. Believe it or not, there ARE some folks with a little authority that care about the future. You need to go meet them; you might find some hope and a reason to be around tomorrow.
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Owain Ozymandias Buck 9:17AM (1/12/2008)
Arggh. The old double post catches me for the first time. sorry.
But one other point. The whole point of a business venture is to make money. Energy and Agriculture are not endeavors of charity. Before anyone changes anything, they want to see the bottom line. Maybe you need to go post on Autoblog Red.
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