The USDA is supporting wood based biofuel initiative in the Pacific Northwest. Local wood produced in proximity to the plant would provide cellulose that would be converted into jet fuel, diesel or ethanol. The cellulose input would include waste trees during the harvest of more valuable timber and fast growing trees such as aspen grown specifically for processing as a biofuel.
University of Minnesota researchers have been working on improving the growth rate of Aspen trees for the past 20 years and have had success in doubling the production. The aspen trees can be grown on land that is unsuitable for agricultural food production. A suitable crop can be generated in seven years. Late in the summer of 2011 through the fall of 2011 the U of MN Extensions service is producing a seven part Biomass Webinar Series. Most of the earlier sessions were recorded are available to view online. Two upcoming free sessions are on October 26th and November 16th.
It would be interesting to check on research using bamboo as a source of cellulosic fuel because that plant also grows quickly on marginal land and is native to many tropical areas.
University of Minnesota researchers have been working on improving the growth rate of Aspen trees for the past 20 years and have had success in doubling the production. The aspen trees can be grown on land that is unsuitable for agricultural food production. A suitable crop can be generated in seven years. Late in the summer of 2011 through the fall of 2011 the U of MN Extensions service is producing a seven part Biomass Webinar Series. Most of the earlier sessions were recorded are available to view online. Two upcoming free sessions are on October 26th and November 16th.
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| U of MN Extension Service |
It would be interesting to check on research using bamboo as a source of cellulosic fuel because that plant also grows quickly on marginal land and is native to many tropical areas.
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