Researchers have discovered a form of ethanol that produces just 6% of the carbon dioxide of petrol when burnt. And it’s made from grass.
Now, before directing Jack to empty your mower into your petrol tank (oh dear), we’re talking about a specialized type of plant. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is also called “Ëœtall prairiegrass’ and lives up to its name (anything up to 2.2 meters). Once harvested and converted into biofuel, it gives out 540% more energy than it took to produce. It’s clean, sustainable, and renewable.
Future energy crisis over? Not quite. In 2006 New Scientist concluded that even if the US switched all its corn and soybean production over to making biofuel, it would make just a 5% dint in American automobile fuel demands. Even with the greatly increased efficiency of switchgrass ethanol, our foot is still firmly on the gas. And what would happen to food prices? You got it.
However, biofuel is just one in an exciting array of renewable energy options that have recently become economically viable. The energy needs of tomorrow will be met with a balanced diet of managed natural resources – ethanol being just one of them – combined with more efficient fuel-burning technology. That’s how we shut the doomsayers up.
Car-juice from grass. What next – power from trees?
Image: Hiding in a Bunker