If you haven’t heard much about miscanthus, it’s because we Americans tend to wait awhile to see how something goes in the rest of the world and if it works there, then we’ll do it too.  I wish it weren’t that way, but that’s the way it is.

Now, I know miscanthus is called a weed.  But during the colonial days, you know, when our forefathers were in the process of forming a new country, ornamental grasses such as  a variety of miscanthus were used as flowers around the colonial homes, some of which homes are standing today.  Miscanthus plants are still there in the gardens of some of these wonderful old colonial homes that have been preserved as National Monuments.  There are many nurseries today that sell Miscanthus (with other Latin names attached than “x giganteus”) should you want them for purely beautification purposes rather than for fuel oil.

Miscanthus x giganteus is a tall perennial grass that can be harvested every year with a sugar cane harvester and is easily grown in a cool climate like that of northern Europe.

The harvested stems of miscanthus can be used as biomass fuel for production of heat and electric power, or can be converted to other useful products such as ethanol.

Miscanthus x giganteus is a little different than the shorter ornamental grasses.  It is a tad more hardy; but even in more northerly climes, plant the rhizomes only in late spring to early summer when the soil is warm, about the same time you plant your beans or corn.  If you plant in the fall roots may not grow enough to withstand the cold and wet of winter and thus will not live.  Miscanthus rhizomes do not tolerate frost very well.  You can minimize frost damage by growing a cover crop over winter or spreading the harvested crop ground with hay.

If you are raising Miscanthus for biofuel production you will get a yield of ten to fifteen tons per acre.  You will have further income potential through carbon credits when the crop is grown for alternative fuels.

At about the same time, chemical engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison announced a process for creating jet fuel using a green gasoline approach.
We are probably looking at five to 10 years before green gasoline arrives at the pump or finds its way into a fighter jet;  however, recent breakthroughs have overcome many hurdles and  bringing green gasoline or other biofuels to market looks more promising than ever.  And it may become so commonplace that customers will not even be aware that they are pumping biomass fuel into their tanks.

It was also reported in the same paper that green gasoline will be an excellent alternative to bioethanol since it can be used in existing engines and does not incur the 30 percent gas mileage penalty of ethanol-based flex fuel.  The theory is that it is cheaper to produce than ethanol fuel.

In the meantime, it looks as though alternative fuels produced from switch grass, Miscanthus x giganteus, and other cellulosic materials are fast replacing the hopes placed on ethanol fuel produced from corn and soy.

The current administration, the one that’s in the Whitehouse now, has set a goal for producing enough ethanol fuel to offset 20 percent of current gasoline usage.  That sort of thing would take 25 percent of current United States cropland out of food production say researchers.  Using Miscanthus to offset the 20 percent of current gasoline usage would only require 9.3 percent of our current agricultural acreage.  We hope the upcoming administration will take a long hard look at the use of Miscanthus x giganteus.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have said that the amount of biomass fuel generated each year using Miscanthus would allow this country to produce about 2 ½ times the amount of ethanol fuel we can produce per acre of corn.

Because Miscanthus is a perennial grass, researchers say it also accumulates much more carbon in the coil than an annual crop such as corn or soybeans.

Years of research and field trials in Miscanthus x giganteus studies have shown the following:
1.    The large perennial grass named Miscanthus x giganteus has great potential for use in energy production.
2.    Land used for Miscanthus is easily reclaimed for corn/soy.
3.    Miscanthus is higher yielding than other bioethanol fuel grasses.
4.    It is estimated Miscanthus yields 10 to 15 tons per acre.
5.    Income may be generated through carbon credits.

Because Miscanthus is a sterile hybrid it is necessary to plant underground rhizomes.  We believe potato planters and harvesters could easily be accommodated for this purpose.  With European patented farm equipment a farmer can plant about 50 acres of Miscanthus rhizomes a day.

Germany is doing a vast amount of alternative fuel research.  In addition, a great deal of good news is coming out of England about biomass fuel.  Farmers across the southwest of England are being offered the opportunity for long-term profitable and secure earnings.

Bical, Europe’s leading developer and commercial producer of the energy crop, Miscanthus,  is working closely with English Power to provide up to 100,000 tons per year of the carbon neutral crop for use initially at the Aberthaw Power Station near Barry in South Wales.

To address this significant potential demand, farmers in Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire are being approached by Bical for the opportunity to grow Miscanthus.  Grants are available from Natural England aimed at offsetting some of the growers’ costs, subject to its environmental criteria.

Miscanthus is a very high yielding energy crop.  It is a perennial grass that grows over three meters tall, resembles maize and produces a crop of cane each year.  The cane, a type of biomass, is harvested every spring, baled, then transported to a Power Station where it is used to generate renewable electricity.

Miscanthus is already being grown in the South West of England and throughout the country.  Such is its success that Drax Power Station in Yorkshire has recently announced plans to increase its requirement for the crop from 100,000 to 300,000 tons per year.

Miscanthus is one of the most sustainable and efficient means of producing biomass to generate renewable electricity.  Every ton of Miscanthus used in substitution of coal prevents approximately 2 tons of carbon dioxide being emitted into the atmosphere.

Bical’s unique strength lies in the Company’s involvement in all aspects of Miscanthus production – from establishment to delivering the end products and managing the fuel supply chain.  Bical has over 10 years experience in Miscanthus production and has large-scale contracts with energy generators across the UK and in Europe.  There is large and sustainable demand that presents a real opportunity for farmers wishing to grow the crop.

The potential for renewable biomass fuel is something Dr. Paul Carver, Project Development Director for Bical, emphasizes.  He said recently: “Bical is the UK’s leading developer and producer of Miscanthus.  Our position in the market and a rapidly increasing demand for truly renewable and sustainable sources of energy, makes us an ideal partner in creating opportunities for the farming community.  We have already signed large scale long-term deals with major power companies in the UK for the supply of Miscanthus and can handle all logistics on behalf of the grower to help them take maximum advantage of these exciting opportunities.”

Opportunities exist in all parts of the country for growers to consider introducing Miscanthus on their farms.  Dr. Carver added to his remarks:  “Growers should not assume that Miscanthus cannot compete with the current high cereal prices. Take time to explore the real returns that are possible from energy cropping and you will find they can be very attractive.”