Invasive plants as potential biofuel sources

Anyone who has been to the South has seen Kudzu vine, it's everywhere. It's their version of the Pacific Northwest's blackberry epidemic.

So, it seems from this Discovery News article, that the roots (carbohydrate rich) are being tested for viability to produce biofuel. Since the roots are deep in the ground, I already doubt it will be enormously viable, especially as a cultivated crop.

The reason this caught my attention, however, was daydreaming a scenario. Ethanol production looks to be getting more and more efficient, as per this old post. When efficiency bumps up to the point where just organic cellulose is needed, then suddenly all that foliage on the top of the ground becomes good fodder to create fuel. As does any plant invasive species, like Japanese Knotweed, Scotch Broom, Canary Grass, and the ubiquitous Blackberries.

Just dreaming a bit about communities (municipalities) buying an ethanol digester and filling it with invasive plant cellulose. After all, producing more cellulose is what they specialize in -- they do it with amazing efficiency in our "waste" lands, as well as more productive land that would do best to be in agricultural production or returning back to a native habitat. The process of clearing land of invasives could produce fuel -- that's a nice thought.

Usual caveat as per Stud Farmhand: I do not suppose that this will replace petroleum fuels completely. Not by a longshot. I do, however, thing that diversification and de-localization of fuel sources is going to be absolutely required as petroleum products fade to nothing. This looks like a dreamable scenario to help the landing a bit.

I know some folks hate ethanol as a fuel, because it is hard on many types of motors. That will have to be addressed as well, but I'm sure it can be. I imagine additives, just like the ones that we used in our old V.W. bus when leaded fuel became outlawed in California. There was an additive to help out the valves that suddenly were getting so worn without lead in the gas.

Just daydreaming as I wake up is all.

Enjoy imagining helpful solutions,

Bp

[photo credit in linked article]