Articles tagged with Bioenergy
Incorporating native, perennial plants into biofuels production can significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and improve water quality. The research aims to make biofuels economically and environmentally sustainable, with potential applications in other regions.
The UK has launched a £27M bioenergy research centre to develop sustainable fuels and reduce carbon emissions. The centre will focus on improving crop yields, changing plant cell walls, and analyzing the economic life cycle of bioenergy sources.
Research by Michigan State University scientists found that monoculture corn landscapes reduce beneficial insects' ability to control pests, increasing pesticide use and yield losses. The study estimates the value of biological pest control service in soybeans to be about $240 million each year.
A Cornell University study is exploring the potential of field grasses in the Northeast as a source for biofuels. The project has identified switchgrass, big bluestem and other native wild grasses with great potential for producing biomass needed for conversion to alternative energy.
Recent advancements in genome technologies and molecular-biology techniques offer new hope for microbial bioenergy applications. Microbes can convert biomass into useful energy forms, such as methane, hydrogen, or electricity, and capture sunlight to produce liquid fuels.
A Stanford study reveals that reviving abandoned agricultural land for biofuel production could ease the global energy crunch without exacerbating food shortages or climate change. The researchers estimate up to 1-1.2 billion acres of fallow cropland globally, with potential for biomass energy conversion.
Scientists estimate that globally up to 4.7 million square kilometers of abandoned lands could be used for sustainable bioenergy production, with a potential yield of nearly half the land area of the United States. The researchers found that biomass from these lands could provide energy equivalent to about 41 exajoules, which would sat...
Biodesign's Rittmann suggests that harnessing the energy of microorganisms can meet our current and future energy needs, cutting back on fossil fuel use. This approach has the potential to provide scalable, environmentally friendly, and food-sustaining solutions.
The Asia-Pacific region is being called upon to conduct thorough research on the benefits, risks, and impacts of biofuels on agriculture and food security. Key findings include the need to balance food and biofuel production to avoid competition for resources and ensure poverty alleviation.
The Department of Energy has selected three new Bioenergy Research Centers to accelerate basic research on developing cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. The centers will focus on reengineering biological processes to convert plant material into efficient biofuels, aiming to reduce America's gasoline consumption by 20% in ten years.
The University of Georgia has received a $20 million funding from the Department of Energy for its role in the Bioenergy Science Center. The center aims to reduce plant cell wall resistance and develop consolidated bioprocessing methods to convert biomass into biofuels.
The Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) will focus on biofuels derived from plant matter, with UC Davis' expertise in deciphering plant cell walls and microbes. The $125 million center aims to achieve measurable success within five years by tackling scientific problems hindering cost-effective conversion.
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center aims to develop cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels, creating momentum for a green future in renewable resources. The center will focus on breeding new varieties of bioenergy plants, developing processing techniques, and improving microbial processes.
The study found that certain biofuel crops, such as switchgrass and hybrid poplar, can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% compared to gasoline and diesel. These crops also offset the largest amounts of fossil fuels reduced emissions when used for electricity generation via biomass gasification.
The DOE JGI has selected over 40 projects to sequence the genomes of switchgrass, cassava, and other organisms for biofuel production. The goal is to improve biomass productivity and feedstock quality for a more sustainable energy future.
Researchers found a pathway for cells to turn on genes and respond to singlet oxygen, a highly reactive substance that destroys biological molecules. This discovery could lead to modified plants with enhanced crop yields and improved bioenergy sources.