Comparing the Biomass Yield and Biogas Potential of Phragmites australis with Miscanthus x giganteus and Panicum virgatum Grown in Canada

Kurtis Baute, Laura L. Van Eerd, Darren E. Robinson, Peter H. Sikkema, Maryam Mushtaq and Brandon H. Gilroyed
Additional contact information
Kurtis Baute: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Canada
Laura L. Van Eerd: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Canada
Darren E. Robinson: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Canada
Peter H. Sikkema: Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Canada
Maryam Mushtaq: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Canada
Brandon H. Gilroyed: School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, 120 Main Street East, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0, Canada

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: The production of bioenergy from plant biomass has the potential to reduce fossil fuel use. The number of biogas facilities around the world has risen dramatically, increasing demand for feedstocks. In this study the invasive perennial grass Phragmites australis was evaluated as a biogas feedstock in comparison with Miscanthus x giganteus and Panicum virgatum . Results from three field sites for each species demonstrated that biomass yields for P. australis averaged approximately 1.82 ± 0.9 kg dry matter (DM) m −2 , comparable to that of M. x giganteus . Yield of P. australis was greater than P. virgatum , which ranged from 0.49 ± 0.06 to 0.69 ± 0.07 kg DM m −2 in July and October, respectively. In mesophilic bench-top digester experiments, methane yields were greater for July-harvested material than for October, ranging from 172.4 ± 15.3 to 229.8 ± 15.2 L CH 4 kg −1 volatile solids (VS) for all perennial grasses. Methane yields per hectare were highest for October-harvested M. x giganteus , followed by July-harvested M. x giganteus and P. australis , whereas methane yield from P. virgatum at both harvest times was lower than the other two species. These results suggest that P. australis is not an economically viable biogas feedstock without pre-treatment to improve methane yield.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; common reed; methane; perennial grass; switchgrass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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