Miscanthus: Potential of a Yielding Energy Crop

1
Miscanthus Potential of a Yielding Energy Crop

• Emily Heaton1
• Thomas B. Voigt2
• Stephen P. Long1
• 1Dept. of Crop Sciences
• 2Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental
  Sciences
• University of Illinois

2
Illinois Electricity Sources
3
Illinois
CO2
Low sulfur coal
4
Different Crops for Different Fuels

• Solid Fuel
• Direct combustion
• Gasification
• Heat and Electricity
• Wood, Perennial Grasses

• Liquid Fuel
• Fermentation
• Transportation
• Corn Ethanol

NREL, PIX
NREL, PIX
5
Miscanthus(Miscanthus x giganteus)
These shoots are annual!
Urbana, IL July, 2004
6
Survey Says Miscanthus yields approximately 2x
more biomass than switchgrass over a range of
thermal time, rainfall and nutrient conditions
Heaton, Voigt Long Biomass and Bioenergy,
2721-30 2004
7
Predicted Miscanthus Yields in Illinois
Agro-climatic computer model based on EU
experience (Clifton-Brown, et al. 2004) IL
State Water Survey climatic data 27-44 tons ha-1
yr-1

Heaton et al. 2004 Mitigation and Adaptation
Strategies for Global Change 9 433-451
8
Research Questions

• Do actual Miscanthus yields agree with computer
  predictions?
• 2) Does Miscanthus yield more than switchgrass in
  Illinois?

9
Illinois Field Trials

• 3 Sites North, Central, South
• Switchgrass seeded (gt13 kg PLS/ha)
• Miscanthus hand planted (1-3 tillers/plant, 50-75
  cm tall)
• Hand harvested by hedgetrimmer or chainsaw

10
Illinois Field Trials

• Completely Randomized Design
• 4 Plots (10m x 10m) each of Miscanthus and
  switchgrass per location
• Established May, June 2002

11
Miscanthus Dry Matter Yields in North, Central
and Southern IL
12
Miscanthus and Switchgrass Dry Matter Yields in
Central IL
13
Fuel Switching Potential

• If Miscanthus averaged 35 Mg ha-1, 10 of
  Illinois land area could meet 50 of Illinois
  electricity demand.

14
Fuel Switching Potential

• Generating electricity with Miscanthus instead of
  coal would avoid the net emission of 85,000,000
  tons CO2 yr-1 in IL

15
Fuel Switching Potential
Carbon Dioxide Emissions (million short tons)
IL Energy Information Admin.
16
Fuel Switching Potential
Carbon Dioxide Emissions (million short tons)
IL Energy Information Admin.
17
Conclusions

1. Miscanthus yields range from 35-60 tons ha-1 yr-1
   in Illinois (gt2x switchgrass), exceeding modeled
   predictions
2. Miscanthus grown on 10 of IL land area can
   produce 50 of the states electricity and avoid
   the emission of 85,000,000 tons CO2 yr-1.
3. Supplementing coal with Miscanthus (5050) would
   allow IL to reduce CO2 emissions to 1990 levels

18
Acknowledgements

• The Illinois Council on Food and Agriculture
  Research (C-FAR)
• The Dudley Smith Initiative
• The Illinois Dept. of Agriculture

• Stephen Long
• Thomas Voigt
• Frank Dohleman
• Fernando Miguez
• Meagan Wells
• Emily Doherty
• Members and Friends of the Long Lab

19
Elean
UKs 1st Biomass Power Station 36 MW electrical
output Enough for 80,000 homes 25-30 tons of
biomass/hour
20
Chariton Valley Biomass Project
Cooperation between farmers, Alliant Energy, Iowa
State University and the University of Iowa Goal
of 35 MW electrical output