Switchgrass: Finally a viable biofuel? - natural wood charcoal briquettes

Willow switch is a perennial grass native to the grassland.It grows very fast, sometimes up to 2.2 metres tall.It grows on land that is not suitable for the growth of food crops, with a yield of about 15 to 20 tons per hectare.It burns very effectively after drying.When the idea that this tenacious native plant could serve as a source of cellulose for biofuels emerged in early 1990, the media began to assume that Canadians would soon rely on this former weed to solve their energy problems.David Suzuki, who wrote an article called filling with willow switch, said in the article that we will soon be filling the tank with biofuels.It was a ready-for-prime-TIME story: this is a weed grown in a place that is not suitable for the growth of traditional grain crops.It has developed its own effective defense against insects.Reduce demand for pesticidesDrought, floods and barren soil.And it is planted all the year round, so don't worry about planting every year.Can burn Willow switch to make the energy look like a modern-day miracle.Fast-Until today, not only have Canadians not been filled with willow switch biofuels, but they have not even grown willow switch biofuels on a large scale.About 40 farms in Canada grow willow switch with an area of only 600 hectares, mainly used as a base for livestock litter, mushrooms, or at a low levelHigh quality cardboard.The largest fuel willow switch grower has not received a penny from the federal government.Roger sumson, executive director, resource efficient agricultural production, CanadaThe profit research group said the willow switch was downgraded to scrap stocks as an energy source."The federal government doesn't seem to want to have anything to do with willow switch," Samson said ."."They put taxpayers' money on other fuels."The federal government has invested $2.$2 billion for biofuels research, of which $0.5 billion for next steps"Project.This $0.5 billion is managed by the Canadian Association for Sustainable Technology Development (STDC)for-Profit base."We look at the feasibility of any fuel source in terms of supply," said Patrice Breton, communications director at STDC ."."We want to go beyond food --versus-Fuel Debate and treat wheat bundles, corn skins, wood chips and even garbage as viable energy sources."But research funds have not been released for such projects."We put the standards, people put the application, we went out to kick the tires and it was possible to fund the project," he said ."."We launched an app in the fall that we are thinking about."The application came from Iogen in Ottawa-A company that produces cellulose ethanol from farm leftovers, while producing the necessary enzymes for paper making and animal feed."We had a lot of very interesting conversations," Breton said ."But there is only one viable application so far.The problem, says Samson, is that the federal government seems to focus on using liquid fuel as an energy source, which is not good for willow switch --At least the technology we have now.Making plant materials such as willow switch into liquid fuel is a complex and difficult process."It consumes as much energy as it produces," said Samson ."."The challenge for chemical engineers is to produce liquid fuels efficiently from biomass while adapting to existing infrastructure," Huber said .".Sam has different ideas.Instead of burning fossil fuels to turn the willow switch into liquid, why not burn the willow switch directly?REAP farm and Research Institute in SteAnne-de-Belville, Quebec, they cut the willow switch in November, just before it snows, and then harvest it in April after the snow melts.The factory is dry enough in winter, so it only needs to be compressed into fuel particles.Samson doesn't want people to fill the tank with bullets, but that's not his point.Largest user of energyThe greatest contribution of greenhouse gases to the environment"It's not transportation in this country, it's hot," he said ." Renewable solid fuels can replace non-renewable solid fuelsHeat fuel and gas with renewable liquids."Heating our houses and institutions with particles will significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels and the emissions of greenhouse gases.According to a fiveAn annual study conducted by researchers from the University of IllinoisLincoln, the willow switch planted for biofuels production produces 540 more energy than it needs to grow, harvest and process."It makes it clear that the willow switch is not only energy efficient, but can also be used in the renewable biofuels economy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the rural economy, u.S. Senator Ken Vogel said.S.Ministry of Agriculture-Service geneticist for agricultural research.According to Samson, REAP's particles look like green charcoal coal balls that can be used in the same applications of coal or natural gas.Their energy per hectare is seven times that of corn.As a heating fuel, willow switch is cheaper than natural gas.Glen Friesen said: "If you consider the final price of $150 per ton, liuzhi switch marinating prices as energy will be an expert in business development for Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives in the range of $7 to $8 per gijoul."If the comparative energy price for natural gas is $17 per cubic meter, then, it is estimated, based on the price of the pellet furnace of about $3,000, the average homeowner will recover the cost of purchasing a pellet stove in three to four years."Because of the existing infrastructure, such as coal, particles can be burned as fuelSamson said there is no point in the problem of car liquefaction.If people turn to electric cars."In order to generate electricity, it can burn in the power plant," he said ."."Then why not power the vehicle without electricity?"He believes that this situation is not only good for airlines in central Canada, but also for the economy."Look at Ontario, their economy is in recession and they import coal from the United States.S.Western Canada produces natural gas for energy, "he said."Now the federal government wants them to use ethanol --Ontario is also a net importer of corn;This is meaningless."In Ontario, this tenacious plant grows well and naturally in some places."It can grow on marginal farmland that is not suitable for food crops," Samson said ."."So it won't compete with them.He added that he has successfully planted willow switch and other tenacious native grass under many different types of conditions."Too wet soil, too dry soil, soil on the slope --None of them is a problem.After Hurricane Katrina, I went to Mississippi and saw some willow switch that had been underwater for more than 30 days --it was fine."Nevertheless, Samson said the federal government is not interested in willow switch.He said he is still waiting for the government or STDC to acknowledge that the willow switch is a solid fuel alternative.Federal Department of Energy spokesman Gary Kellar noted that conventional ethanol and biodiesel were the first generation of biofuels."We have a lot of demand for the next generation of biofuels.Cellulose EthanolFuel made from agricultural products that do not use food-This is the next generation we think.Samson and other supporters of the willow switch agreeThey would like to see this approach put into action now in Canada."Instead of exploring alternatives, the government of Canada is trying to pick the winners," Samson said ."."If they use things like coal and corn ethanol, I think they're wrong.The author is from Toronto.Free writer.