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| Science & Technology |
| Univ of Ill. says hybrid grass 2.5 times as efficient as corn for ethanol |
| 2008-08-04 |
| CHAMPAIGN, Ill. [from U of I press release] — 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..... “What we’ve found with Miscanthus is that the amount of biomass generated each year would allow us to produce about 2 1/2 times the amount of ethanol we can produce per acre of corn,” said crop sciences professor Stephen P. Long, who led the study. ----------- I can't figure out if they've actually done the processing into ethanol or are just assuming it can be done |
| Posted by:mhw |
| #10 Yeah, but you could run anything like a lawnmower or outboard engine that needs a liquid fuel on something like this. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-08-04 23:05 |
| #9 Natural Gas is the better bridge fuel. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-08-04 21:27 |
| #8 In a word - TESLA! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-08-04 19:54 |
| #7 Can I start growing it in my backyard now? You could, as long as you don't mind losing your dog and kids. Miscanthus test plot Its value is it grows fast, is perennial, and doesn't require lots of care and fertilizer, like corn. The down side is that the cellulose must first be broken down into sugars. That requires enzymes and processes that are not quite ready for commercialization, then fermented. Ethanol is a bridge fuel. Personal transportation will have to migrate to electricity centric, the sooner the better for the civilized world. Electricity can be produced using any fuel, including the sun at 20-30% efficiency while plants convert sunlight at less than 1% efficiency. In addition electric motors are much more efficient than internal combustion engines. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-08-04 18:15 |
| #6 Actually John, it is a very good source. I'll look up the info when I get home. NO BLOOD FOR ooohhh duuuude I'm wasted.... |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-08-04 17:47 |
| #5 It would be a real dilemma if weed (as in marijuana) was a great source of ethanol. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-08-04 17:34 |
| #4 Grass, is there anything it can't do? Bamboo (grass shoots) can be used in building, flooring. Miscanthus x giganteius grass can run our cars. Cannibas can distract our bleeding hearts and artists. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-08-04 17:17 |
| #3 Vader has a wonderful question. Is this grass growable like typical grass. Could homeowners grow it to offset the vast amount of land usually required and in exchange get some kind of gas credits (assuming a home ethanol brewing machine isn't available). |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2008-08-04 17:16 |
| #2 It's ethanol, so can we drink it? Cant taste any worse than Tequila. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-08-04 16:39 |
| #1 Kewl. Can I start growing it in my backyard now? |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-08-04 15:04 |
