- Title: BRAZIL: World wrestles with biofuels versus food, new prospect in elephant grass
- Date: 8th June 2008
- Summary: (L!1) NOVA ODESSA, BRAZIL (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH CENTER OF THE ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE, VALDINEI PAULINO, AND GRASS CUTTERS ARRIVING AT ELEPHANT GRASS PLANTATION MAN CUTTING ELEPHANT GRASS DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH CENTER OF THE ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE, VALDINEI PAULINO, SHOWING ELEPHANT GRASS CLOSE OF ELEPHANT GRASS GENERAL VIEW OF ELEPHANT GRASS PLANTATION VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH CENTER OF THE ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE, VALDINEI PAULINO, LOOKING AT ELEPHANT GRASS PLANTATION (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH CENTER OF THE ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE, VALDINEI PAULINO, SAYING: "Elephant grass has been used since remote times in humanity's history, when we began to use coal. But this alternative re-emerged from the world's energy crisis and the search for other plants or other alternative energy sources to fulfil global necessities." SIGN INDICATING ZOOTECHNY LABORATORY VARIOUS OF RESEARCHERS INSIDE LABORATORY (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH CENTER OF THE ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE, VALDINEI PAULINO, SAYING: "It (elephant grass) grows swiftly and aggressively and yields three to four cuts per year, while some trees like the Eucalyptus for example, take much longer -- some seven to eight years to produce 15 tons of dry biomass." VARIOUS OF DIRECTOR OF THE RESEARCH CENTER OF THE ZOOTECHNY INSTITUTE, VALDINEI PAULINO, SHOWING ELEPHANT GRASS CLOSE OF ELEPHANT GRASS SEEDS IN RESEARCHER'S HAND ELEPHANT GRASS MOVING WITH WIND VARIOUS OF PLANTING PROCESS RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF TECHNOLOGY CENTER OF RIO DE JANEIRO FEDERAL UNIVERSITY VARIOUS OF ENERGY SPECIALIST LUIZ PINGUELLI (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ENERGY SPECIALIST LUIZ PINGUELLI, SAYING: "By using a national (Brazilian) supply, that is, vegetal coal instead of mineral coal, you spare resources and dollars inside the country and reduce therefore, the country's raw material imports. Environmental benefits are that if you use a renewable material that comes from a plant, you avoid contributing substantially to the greenhouse effect." NOVA ODESSA, BRAZIL (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKERS CUTTING ELEPHANT GRASS
- Embargoed: 23rd June 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Industry
- Reuters ID: LVA738HVM5GP3BPWDDXGAA3MDCLU
- Story Text: While world leaders and experts gather in Rome this week to discuss the global food crisis, Brazilian researchers continue to investigate the potential of elephant grass to function as an alternative biofuel source without cutting into the food supply - a criticism often lobbed at soy biodiesel and ethanol.
Amid growing concern with global warming and rocketing oil prices Brazilians are investing in a new energy alternative that has proved itself even more efficient than sugar cane ethanol.
Studies by Brazil's Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the Zootechny Center have found that biomass from elephant grass may be a greener and cheaper option for energy and mining companies.
Typically used to feed cattle, researchers discovered its dry biomass can generate up to 25 times as much energy as the amount of fossil fuels used to produce it, while sugar cane ethanol only produces nine times as much.
But after a decade of scientific researches, large energy companies have only recently begun to show interest for this tall cane-like species of grass.
Despite being a global energy leader, Brazil still faces power supply concerns that have been leading to the construction of several coal-fired plants that emit significant levels of carbon dioxide, a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Burning organic matter like wood chips and some crops helps reduce total emissions of carbon dioxide from the energy sector because, unlike oil, gas and coal, the trees and plants absorb the planet-warming gas as they grow before they are used for fuel.
According to the director of the research center of Sao Paulo's Zootechny Center, Valdinei Paulino, elephant grass had long been used by humans, but growing concern with global warming brought it back into the spotlight.
"Elephant grass has been used since remote times in humanity's history, when we began to use coal. But this alternative re-emerged from the world's energy crisis and the search for other plants or other alternative energy sources to fulfil global necessities," he said.
The research center said the Pennisetum purpureum, or elephant grass, is perene and highly productive, making it even more efficient than the popular eucalyptus tree, used to produce cellulose and charcoal.
Paulino said elephant grass grows faster and allows more yearly cuts than such trees.
"It (elephant grass) grows swiftly and aggressively and yields three to four cuts per year, while some trees like the Eucalyptus for example, take much longer -- some seven to eight years to produce 15 tons of dry biomass," he explained.
Although relatively fast-growing, the eucalyptus tree yields from seven to 20 tons of dry biomass per hectare a year, while elephant grass yields 30 to 40 tons.
According to Paulino, there are some 200 variations of elephant grass and a lot of research has yet to be done in order to identify which types are best suited to certain kinds of soil or climate.
A medium-sized energy company, Sykue Bioenergia, has already custom-built a power plant that will run exclusively on elephant grass. The $48 million plant will have a 30 megawatt capacity and should begin working by the end of 2008.
Energy specialist, Luiz Pinguelli, from Rio de Janeiro Federal University, said investing in biomass will not only bring environmental benefits, but also economic gains.
"By using a national (Brazilian) supply, that is, vegetal coal instead of mineral coal, you spare resources and dollars inside the country and reduce therefore, the country's raw material imports. Environmental benefits are that if you use a renewable material that comes from a plant, you avoid contributing substantially to the greenhouse effect," he said.
While it may seem promising, this cane-like grass is still a quite challenging alternative. In order to grow, this crop needs considerable amounts of water, what may keep it from being planted in drier areas.
The process of drying and compacting the biomass are also a challenge, added Paulino. Having 80 percent of water, elephant grass, unlike Eucalyptus trees, do not dry out in the sun and demand heat energy to do so.
Although more research has to be made before elephant grass entirely substitutes coke or traditional wood charcoal, increasing environmental pressures and the threat of an energy shortage in Brazil are likely to spur investments from the government and additional energy companies.
The use of renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity and plant-based biofuels in Brazil make up over 46 percent of its entire energy share, by far surpassing the world's average of around 13 percent. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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