Biomass Production

The use of green algae for biomass oil and food production, is more efficient than grass-based sources can ever be.

All that grass has got to be sowed, growed, mowed and the fermented/processed in giant tanks.

The algae system is far more readily controlled.

Kind Regards....

Yes, true, but you are missing the big idea. People could be producing their own grass from their yard clippings (if they have a big enough yard). Cities could collect grass clippings from residences and businesses and create fuel for the city. Grass is very abundant and easily grown. I have been hoping for a home ethanol production system that uses my grass clippings.

Hello WWkayaker

Here we are the mose efficient growers of grass in the world.

We convert most of ours to milk, meat, wool, cheese and similar useful products.

To convert a home lawn of grass clippings top ethanol would not be cost-effective, because of the high initial costs for a small converter, and as the converter is made larger, the internal volume increases faster than the external surface area, thus becomes easier to keep at the optimum temperatures.

It is not generally realised how much grass is needed to be fermented to obtain useful amounts of ethanol.

And dependent on one's location, generally the Government State Corporation is going to require mandatory annual inspection, licence, tax on ethanol produced, and even more methods of extracting a greater amount from your wallet.

Then there are the fire and explosion hazards, which preclude a "home-based" ethanol still, and even if you manage all the above, your neighbours are either likely to come over regularly for drinks, or will complain to the local Authorities.

Grass clippings and other organic materials, are regularly collected by some enlightened local Authorities, who compost the green matter, and sell it back at half price to donors of the uncomposted green matter.

Talk to your local Authority, start something in your local area, there is good money in it.

If all fails, get a deep used-up quarry, ensure it is lined and/or will not leach water over the next 20 years.

Invite folks, for a small fee, to bring their green matter along, and build yourself a huge methane generator, and in a few years, you can pipe that gas, burn it in a small power station, and sell the electricity to the local network.

Lateral thinking, along with some money and enthusiasm, is what is needed, for good success.

Kind Regards....

Great suggestion! I gave you a GA rating for it. I will see what my city is willing to do.

They aren't talking lawn grass or pasture grass here, but stuff more like sugar cane or bamboo. Tonnes per hectare are much higher and have the potential to be rotation crops or stabilisation crops. Technology to harvest already exists via cane harvesters. It will be interesting to watch it all unfold. Hopefully cellulosic grasses and algae will compete head to head.