Research and Development Agenda

1. Warm-Season Grass Analysis

2. Improved Harvesting Methods

Traditional methods of harvesting commonly used in limited switchgrass research to date are based on hay, a forage crop, not biomass. Alternantive methods that avoid multiple passes through the field, as well as the expenses and energy of baling, should be investigated.

3. Improved Pelleting Strategies 

No pelleting plants dedicated to any species or mix of warm-season prairie grasses have been identified.  Only a few have limited experience. Minimizing cost suggests local or regional market, and the optimum strategy is not obvious.  Possible strategies include the following:

    a) mobile pelleting machine that incorporates mowing, grinding, and pelleting in a single piece of field equipment;

    b) a trailer-mounted moveable system that would serve a small area, perhaps a township (36 square miles) for a period of time and move; and

    c) a traditional fixed mill with ample storage operating most of the year, serving a radius of perhaps 50 miles.

Careful analysis of the cost and energy-profit ratio of each strategy should be undertaken.  This task should be coordinated with the analysis of harvesting methods and market and business development.

4. Bulk Delivery Systems

Wood pellets are price competitive in some areas of the U.S. and Canada.  If prairie grass pellets are to become cost competitive, key cost components must be minimized, including transportation. To reduce transportation cost and embodied energy, pellets should be moved in bulk, by ship, barge, or rail, wherever possible.  Distance should also be minimized, particularly when trucks are used. Rail and truck methods of moving bulk pellets within the U.S. need to be developed, meeting U.S. standards and market convenience requirements.

5. High-Ash Pellet Combustion Equipment for Space and Water Heating

Wood pellets are most common in areas with a history of burning cord wood.  Wide market acceptance in areas that have used other fuels will require a level of convenience similar to what customers have become accustomed to. This means no bags, no ash clean-out.  The entire process must be automated. To avoid multiple fuel suppliers, water, as well as space, heating loads must be met, suggesting a boiler with separate storage. Very few, if any, systems meeting this criteria are available in North America today.

The challenge is complicated by the higher ash content of grasses (4-7%) with the problem of potential clinkering, particularly in top feed systems.

6. Pellet-Fueled Combined Heat and Power Systems

Wood pellets are now used to fuel district heating and combined heat and power plants in Sweden. The technical and economic feasibility of developing similar systems based on prairie grasses, perhaps in conjunction with municipal utilities, should be investigated.

7. Agricultural, Environmental, and Energy Policy

Current policy initiatives in agriculture, the environment, and energy give little attention to the potential for pelleting warm-season prairie grasses and in many cases discourage it.  The following may prove useful for advancing the use of warm-season grasses as a viable bio-energy resource.

    a) carefully analyze the 2002 Farm Bill regarding the potential for harvesting CRP enrolled land for biomass pellets,

    b) evaluate potential funding sources with the 2002 Farm Bill,

    c) evaluate the new energy bill (if it passes) for potential funding sources,

    d) evaluate the potential for integration with the EPA Watershed Initiative

    e) seek congressional support for greater focus on biomass pelleting.

8. Marketing and Business Development

Wood-pellet mills are often locally owned operations of moderate scale acquiring sawmill by-product as feedstock. While a similar strategy may work for warm-season grasses, other structures such as cooperatives or municipal utilities may be a preferred option in some locations.