October 5, 2006

Alternative energy research catching fire

BLACKSBURG—Virginia farmers have known for years what other Americans are only realizing—that one of the solutions to our nation’s energy shortfall is growing right on our own farms. Several agriculture-related research programs on energy will be featured at the Oct. 16 Virginia Tech Deans’ Forum on Energy Security and Sustainability.

“Virginia Farm Bureau not only supports the production of biofuels, but we also support continued research to help these important alternative energy sources become more available to the general public,” said Andrew Smith, senior assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “We’ve known for several years now that biodiesel and ethanol-blended gasoline are better for the environment, provide important new markets for our farmers and help reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign oil imports. But research on the best ways to produce and distribute these fuels continues to be needed.”

A variety of current research projects will be presented at the forum, including one related to the possibility of using starch and cellulose molecules plus water to generate hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Since the source materials—plant matter and wood chips—are readily available in rural Virginia, the process holds promise for yet another alternative energy source from Virginia agriculture. According to the lead researcher, Dr. Percival Zhang of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, the next step is building a “sugar car” to convert those materials into hydrogen on-board to fuel the vehicle.

Other research programs being presented include efforts to analyze the potential of the nation’s forests for creating bio-mass energy sources; using switchgrass as a potential source of fuel for heating large facilities when mixed with coal; and converting waste from cotton gins into ethanol.

Virginia Tech researchers also are exploring new barley varieties as a potential feedstock for ethanol production and further uses for wood byproducts after they’ve been processed for fuel use. There’s even a proposal to build a small power plant near Gretna that would use a combination of switchgrass and wood chips for fuel.

“These are exciting times for the energy industry, consumers and Virginia farmers,” Smith said. “By focusing attention on these new opportunities, we hope to continue the movement toward more renewable fuel production and use in Virginia.”

Contact Smith at 804-290-1021 or Lori Greiner, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, at 540-231-5863.