Florida Clean Power LLC.

Sugarcane is gradually being edged out of pole position for biofuel efficiency, as studies by the Agrobiology Centre at the state Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) are finding that elephant grass has even greater potential. Its dry biomass, burned in ovens, can generate 25 times as much energy as the amount of fossil fuel used to produce it, while sugarcane converted into ethanol only produces nine times as much. But these two energy balance leaders face different challenges and must travel down different paths before they can compete, for instance, as fuels for electricity generation. Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has only recently captured the interest of large energy consumers and companies, after decades of scientific research. It is a cane-like species of grass, brought from Africa at least a century ago and used as cattle fodder. Interest in its possible energy uses was sparked by its high productivity. The popular eucalyptus tree, planted in Brazil to produce cellulose and charcoal, yields 7.5 tons of dry biomass per hectare a year, on average, and up to 20 tons a year in optimum conditions, while elephant grass yields 30 to 40 tons. Furthermore, eucalyptus trees take seven years to reach a size worth felling, while elephant grass can be harvested two to four times a year, because of its rapid growth. In the near future, Florida Clean Power do Amapa Ltd, sister company of Florida Clean Power LLC in the US will also produce briquettes composed of half Eucalyptus and half Elephant grass, for a cleaner, more sustainable energy source.