Agrosil Energy to Grow Commercial-Scale Miscanthus

Colorado-based Agrosil Energy LLC has begun large-scale growing operations of Miscanthus x giganteus for use in producing heat and power or liquid biofuels. The energy crop has been used for years in the U.K. and Europe, and Agrosil is in the lead position for commercial production in the U.S.

As the sterile hybrid produces no seeds, growing miscanthus involves propagating rhizomes on a smaller scale and transplanting them to large commercial acreage. Custom harvesting crews and machines will harvest the cane and then transport it to a central facility for upgrading according to customer requirements, which could include turning it into pellets, condensed bales or cubes.Miscanthus lowers carbon dioxide by sequestering carbon in the rhizomes and by reducing combustion emissions. Agrosil expects the crops will yield about 15 tons per acre, with the first harvest in the spring of 2012. Long-term contracts for fuel delivery will begin in 2013.