Arundo donax for electricity generation

[Markham]

hi,
I want to know the companies using Arundo donax for electricity generation?

[sreevatsansumukhi]

This link provides information about companies working on generating electricity from the energy crop

http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/12/arundo_donax_fo.html

[paru]

Here is an example of an American- based company working on deriving electricity from Arundadonax

Florida-based Biomass Investment Group (BIG), is embarking on a project using Arundo donax as an energy crop that will be grown on 20,000 acres (8000ha). The biomass will be converted into bio-oil, a heavy fuel oil, via a fast-pyrolysis process . This carbon-neutral oil will then be used in a power plant that will provide electricity to some 80,000 Floridian households.

http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/12/arundo_donax_fo.html

[Amelia]

Does the pyrolysis or the gasification work well with the energy crop? Which is the widely used method for electricity generation?

[sreevatsansumukhi]

Pyrolysis and Gasification are similar processes of heating with limited oxygen. Pyrolysis for liquefaction usually uses no oxygen while gasification uses a small, controlled amount.

Fast pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition process operating at moderate temperatures (450-600 C) with high heat transfer rates to the biomass particles and a short residence time. The process produces no waste and either the pyrolysis gas or charcoal is used to heat the reactor and the other can be used to supplement the other in heating, dry the feedstock, the charcoal can be sold as a byproduct or the pyrolysis gas can be used to fuel a gas engine.

Pyrolysis oil can be used directly as a fuel or as an intermediate for production of chemicals. This carbon-neutral oil will then be used in a power plant that will provide electricity to households.

I think pyrolysis and gasification are the best approaches to generate electricity from Arundo donax

[paru]

Is there any company in Europe, using Arundo donax to generate electricity?