The production of herbaceous feedstocks for renewable energy

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6959158

This document describes the use of a selected group of herbaceous plants as energy feedstocks. Twelve herbaceous crops were selected for study based on their above average yields; their composition, which can increase their value for fuel and other applications; and their ability to produce in a variety of soils and climates. Six of the twelve are carbohydrate crops (sugarcane, sweet sorghum, sweet-stemmed grain sorghum, Jerusalem artichoke, sugar beet, and fodder beet), and six are lignocellulosic crops (kenaf, napiergrass, alfalfa, reed canarygrass, common reed, and water hyacinth). The contribution that herbaceous crops can make to the total US energy supply is discussed. Each candidate crop is characterized in terms of chemical composition, storage, processing, products, and uses. Growth characteristics and production practices in terms of geographic range, yield potential, and cultural requirements are described. Barriers to private sector development of herbaceous energy crops are listed and how R and D programs could be directed to overcome these roadblocks. The areas considered are feedstock selection and production, harvesting and transport, and processing and conversion.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 6959158
• Report Number(s): SERI/SP-273-2302; ON: DE85012136
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
ALFALFA
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES
PLANT GROWTH
GRASS
SORGHUM
SUGAR BEETS
SUGAR CANE
SUNFLOWERS
WATER HYACINTHS
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BACTERIA
BEETS
CEREALS
FOOD
GROWTH
LEGUMINOSAE
MICROORGANISMS
PLANTS
RHIZOBIUM
VEGETABLES
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)