CSB #06: Plants as an Alternative Energy Source

A picture of the Miscanthus, a possible source of fuel when "dry-roasted."

After much research, British researchers realized that plants "pre-roasted like coffee beans" could replace a large amount of coal in power plants; in other words, burning "energy crops" like willow and Miscanthus could serve as a major alternative energy source. Further research to test the efficiency of these plants was conducted at the University of Leeds.

British power plants are already burning plant matter along with coal. But since biomass is "moist and bulky, making it difficult to store for long periods without going [moldy]," coal is more commonly used. In the University, however, they discovered that through a process called torrefaction, where the plant matter is heated up to 575 degrees Fahrenheit in an air-free container. Once heated, the once-inconvenient plant mass into a "dry, energy-rich fuel that is cheaper and easier to move around and has a much longer shelf life."

Some crops which can be used as "energy crops" are willow, Miscanthus, and waste plant matter from farms and other plantations, like branches, etc. According to Professor Jenny Jones, "[...] many more farmers would be interested in growing energy crops on areas or poorer quality soil." However, she points out that switching to burning biomass might be bad financially, as it is a lot more expensive that just the conventional burning of coal. "If the economic barriers [are] lowered," she says, "[...] the power companies could use more biomass without losing out financially."

This article stood out to me from all the others, because I had never considered burning plants as a source of energy. Through the process of torrefaction, though, researchers have realized that plants are actually rich in energy when they are dry-roasted. If money were not a setback, switching to burning biomass would actually a plausible idea, although in the future, finding a ready supply of plant matter may be a problem. Being more readily available than coal, though, makes it an alternative energy source which, upon further development, may be able to replace the limited resources we currently use.

Sources:

• "'Dry-roasted' plants could be energy fuel." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 4 Apr. 2011. <http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE40&SID=5&iPin=UPI-1-20110105-184652-bc-britain-plantfuel&SingleRecord=True>.
• http://www.bluestem.ca/images/miscanthus-blutenwunder.jpg