Plant Species

Woody plant species are so diverse that they grow in virtually every part of the world and can be harvested to produce solid, liquid or gaseous energy feedstocks. The crops and wastes from harvesting represent a large potential feedstock for energy and biobased products. Different plant species have a different content of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, as well as resins and tannins present. All of these components affect the energy value and utilization potential of biomass. The USDA Forest Services Forest Products Lab has produced an extensive handbook that details these differences entitled Wood Handbook.

All plant species that store primarily carbohydrates or oils are suitable for producing liquid energy sources. Cellulose, starch, sugar and inulin (Ohta et al. 1993) can be used to produce ethanol, and vegetable oils can be used as fuels. Parts of plants containing lignocellulose can provide energy directly as solid fuels or indirectly after conversion (Wright and Berg 1996). Oak Ridge National Lab and Washington State University have conducted research into the utilization of hybrid poplars for bioenergy while the State University of New York has examined other species for utilization.

Populus spp., Salix spp., Eucalyptus spp., and other fast growing species make excellent choices for energy plantations. Various other hardwoods and some softwoods would make better choices for other biobased products due to various differences in sugar composition. Just like making forest management decisions, deciding which species is best for your objectives will depend greatly upon site and economic conditions (Bouton 2002).

To learn about a specific plant species and its role in bioenergy and biobased product utilization, Phyllis has been created. Sponsored by Shell Global Solutions, Agrotechnology and Food Innovations, and maintained by the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands, this site provides analysis and composition data for over 2000 various biomass and waste materials. Biomass materials are group by untreated and treated wood, grasses, agricultural waste, animal waste, and other organic residues. The system also provides comparisons to fossil fuel sources including peat. Phyllis will provide users with information regarding ash and water content, calorific values, and biochemical composition of the material.