Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Michigan State University devised a method for creating biomass fuels from grass. This method could mitigate global warming by reducing carbon.

Photo of the Biofuels Cropping System Experiment in Michigan, taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Research conducted by Ben-Gurion University and Michigan State University. Source: Ryan Mater

The team believes that cellulosic biofuel crops have the potential to be a petroleum alternative in ethanol fuel and electric light-duty vehicles, including passenger cars and small trucks.

Climate change mitigation relies on decarbonizing vehicle fuel with bioenergy production and carbon capture storage (CCS). CCS can capture up to 90% of the carbon dioxide emitted during electricity generation and industrial processes. These methods prevent the atmospheric increase in CO₂ concentration. A combination of CCS and renewable biomass creates a “carbon-negative” mode, where carbon is removed from the atmosphere.

The team evaluated bioenergy feedstocks that are grown side by side, including switchgrass, giant Miscanthus grass, poplar trees, maize residuals, restored native prairie and a combination of grasses and vegetation that grow spontaneously. According to the researchers, all of the tested crops had significant mitigation capacity. As such, crops could offer significant decarbonization of U.S. light-duty vehicles, curbing CO₂ emissions.

The results were compared to petroleum only emissions. Ethanol with bioenergy was reportedly 78% to 290% better at reducing carbon emissions. The biomass powered electric vehicles were 74% to 303% cleaner, while biomass-powered electric vehicles combined with CSS were 329% to 558% superior to petroleum.

The next phase of the research is to assess other environmental and economic aspects of bioenergy crops. The method needs to be economically attractive to farmers, conservation-friendly and grown without chemicals.

This study was published in Environmental Science Technology.