Grass crops show promise for biofuel composition

Grass could play a greater role in biofuel composition in the years to come after a large-scale study in the US into its potential as an energy source.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign claims that its research is the first time the economic potential and geographic yield of grass crops across the Midwest has been assessed.

Atmospheric sciences professor Atul Jain says: "We came to the conclusion that, in order to study the potential to grow these grasses in this region, we have to have an integrated assessment study of socioeconomics and biophysical aspects."

The need for a more varied biofuel composition arises from the importance of corn as a food in the US.

With more of the cereal crop being used instead for biofuel production, federal regulations have been put in place demanding that, by 2022, non-corn biomass is used in 79 billion litres of biofuels.

The University of Illinois says it is a global leader in public engagement, teaching and research.