Another biofuel question....what about grass and leaves?

Question

Suburbs all across the country throw grass clippings and leaves away - couldn't they be turned into ethanol or some sort of methane gas?

Answer 1

The fuel value is negligible.  The problem with leaves and grass and wood is that they are so variable.  Boilers like natural gas.  Clean, environmentally clean, and sooooooooo convenient.

So the powers that be in charge can:

a. knock themselves out to figure out how to use biomass that is high maintenance

or

b. open the gas valve and watch tv.

What do you think they will choose?

Answer 2

I think they should turn it into methane.  All they have to do is selectively breed or find a highly efficient methane producing microorganism and we are on our way to making our own methane right at the sight.  Think, we could find ways to break down garbage and yard waste into methane to produce energy.  There is grass growing everywhere, and leaves from the trees every year, there has to be something they can do with it.

Answer 3

Yes the Earth has recycled them for millions of years. Most think that the fossil fuels are from the animals ,but it actually comes from plants. Plants take in CO2 and give us back the O2 quickly. The plants keeps the C to make food for the plants. The leaves wash down to the delta where it deteriorates to oil & gas.

Answer 4

There is some current research being conducted into "cellulosic" ethanol.  Switch grass apparently is a promising source of celluosic ethanol; the technology may advance enough that yard waste is usable.

Answer 5

Yes, they can, but it costs too much to be economically competative with natural gas, fuel oil or coal.