Search Results for 'miscanthus'

Robocar’s biobased seat cushions, miscanthus bedding, churro waste fat based diesel, edible spoons, cellulose-based fabric, sausage without the sausage, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of August 15th

August 14, 2019 | Jim Lane

As the end of summer approaches, county fairs are popping up around the U.S. and with it, churros and other waste. But innovators are turning churro waste fats into renewable diesel, using edible flavored spoons to avoid fair waste, rain ponchos made from sugarcane-based bioplastic, packaging from cornstarch and spruce wood, and more. Here are […]

Terravesta inviting farmers looking to diversify income with miscanthus

July 28, 2019 | Helena Tavares Kennedy

In the United Kingdom, miscanthus specialist, Terravesta, is inviting farmers who want to learn more about the environmental and financial benefits of miscanthus to attend a Miscanthus farm walk hosted by Terravesta and Norfolk farmer, Adam Brewer on 10 September 2019. Alex Robinson, general manager at Terravesta, says that more farmers are looking at planting […]

Miscanthus BBQ fuel, microalgae, new bioreactor for fermentation, cacao bean waste to beer, soy shoes, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of June 7th

June 6, 2019 | Jim Lane

As we turn the corner from spring to summer, the pace of bioeconomy invention and change continues at a frenetic pace. Here are the top innovations for the week of June 7th In today’s Digest, miscanthus BBQ fuel, microalgae, new bioreactor for fermentation, cacao bean waste to beer, soy shoes — these and more, ready […]

New miscanthus variety launched by Terravesta

May 12, 2019 | Helena Tavares Kennedy

In the United Kingdom, a new rhizome-based Miscanthus variety named ‘Athena’ is being launched to farmers by biomass company, Terravesta. Athena has delivered staggering results in commercial-scale trials, meaning quicker and higher returns and more than double the energy per hectare. Athena is available for 2020 spring planting and produces higher yields in year two […]

University of Illinois researchers look at how to grow Miscanthus in cold climes

January 31, 2019 | Meghan Sapp

In Illinois, for farmers, Miscanthus represents a big up-front investment. The large perennial grass must be established from vegetative pieces at great cost to farmers, but it promises a decade or more of massive biomass yields, starting in year two or three. If a cold winter happens to strike in the first year, however, all […]

$2.5M private investment boosts Terravesta and booming miscanthus

November 25, 2018 | Helena Tavares Kennedy

In the United Kingdom, former IG Group chief executive and current Scotgold chairman Nat le Roux bought a personal stake in renewable biomass business Terravesta. Le Roux invested £2 million, or about $2.5 million, in the business, reflecting the growing importance of clean energy, and the positive prospects for the rapidly-developing miscanthus bio-economy. The investment […]

Miscanthus New Zealand says renewable diesel can be competitive with fossil fuels

October 30, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In New Zealand, Miscanthus New Zealand says that small-scale renewable diesel production using 50,000 metric tons dry weight of forestry waste or biomass such as miscanthus could be produced at prices equal to current fossil fuel prices and locked in for 12 months at that price—as long as the rest of the supply chain was […]

USDA funds $1 million for miscanthus cultivar breeding

April 5, 2018 | Meghan Sapp

In Illinois, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture has announced a grant for $1 million to support research led by a University of Illinois scientist. The research will address the need for better-adapted and higher-yielding biomass cultivars ready to plug into the biofuel supply chain in the United States. Researchers at U of […]

Biofuel market doesn’t provide enough kick for Missouri miscanthus

May 3, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In Missouri, miscanthus farmers are happy with the results they’re getting on their 3,700 acres of marginal land they’ll grow the crop on this year, in no small part thanks to the price stability offered by Renew Biomass who harvests, bales and markets the crop for them. But the market isn’t biofuel because oil prices […]

U of Iowa contracts 800 acres for miscanthus to replace coal in energy production

April 25, 2017 | Meghan Sapp

In Iowa, researchers at the University of Iowa have contracted about 800 acres of land from 15 nearby farms to grow miscanthus for replacing coal in its energy supply. The university aims to eliminate coal use by 2025, using 10% miscanthus and the remainder from other biomass fuels. The project allows the university’s energy budget to […]