Clemson Receives Grant to Research Crops for Energy Use

by Scott Miller (Clemson University) A new public-private partnership led by Clemson University and a worldwide biomass and bioenergy producer will research the use of crops that can both open new markets for South Carolina landowners and support the growing global demand for renewable energy.

In forming the Carolina Energy Crop Alliance, Abengoa Energy Crops has committed more than $1 million annually to support a three-year research project in South Carolina on the use of different trees and grass-like species to produce sustainable biomass for energy. The alliance will include scientists and educators from a number of state and federal agencies, as well as several private enterprises. Abengoa and Clemson announced the project during a meeting of Alliance partners Wednesday at Clemson’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center near Florence.

The alliance will focus on five primary research and education areas: sustainability of feedstock production; genetic development of new tree feedstocks; silviculture trials to analyze forest health; analysis of the management, harvest and storage of grass-type feedstocks; and landowner and public education programs.

Alliance partners include Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing Inc., which is leasing land to Clemson to conduct agricultural research; ArborGen Inc., which is providing trees for testing; and NexSteppe Inc., which will collaborate on the development of new biomass sorghum hybrids for the region.

Lead by Clemson professor James Frederick, researchers will evaluate switchgrass and biomass sorghum at the Pee Dee Research and Education Center. The project also will include test plots to analyze different varieties of cottonwood, sweetgum and other hardwood species, as well as selected conifer trees, as sources of bioenergy. It will provide insight into how energy crops could affect soil health, air and water quality, and biodiversity. Crops and trees will be studied for potential combustion as an alternative to coal and for conversion to liquid biofuels, such as ethanol.

“Many of these crops and trees are more suited than traditional food crops for production on the marginal, sandy soils common to the Coastal Plain. Feedstocks grown for bioenergy are thought to have many beneficial characteristics, such as high yield potential, good drought tolerance, a source of wildlife habitat, low input costs and capacity to be produced using traditional farming and forestry equipment,” Frederick said. READ MORE