It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that solar and wind are, today, possibly the most obvious signs of alternative power in the widening field of Renewable Energy Sources. This can be seen through their rapid increase over recent years which has taken sight through the steady rise in solar and wind alternatives, not only technologically, but their increase and integration as a whole.
Solar strips and units (PV cells, predominantly) can be seen flanking the edges of most new gizmos and gadgets as well as taking root in a large number of domestic and industrial inventions. Wind has also seen much success lately; microgenerational progression has harnessed the potential of wind power and – especially in countries with a rather blustery climate – has adopted the much celebrated wind turbines which are offsetting domestic carbon footprints up-and-down the UK. And it’s a great thing too! But without a national campaign to homogenise the adoption of alternative power, is it really going to make a significant effect? Possibly not. However, to circumscribe alternative energy solutions to the limited areas of solar and wind is just as bad as giving up all together. Or even worse; not even making a start.
Switchgrass is just one example of what most of us have no real idea about. Switchgrass, and other perennial grasses such as sorghum, are a fast growing, deep rooted super plant. Why? Well, switchgrass can be used to generate energy, and, right now, is being considered as a carbon neutral alternative to coal. So much so, in fact, that wholesale energy giants NRG Energy are experimenting with using sorghum and switchgrass instead of coal at a power plant in Louisiana.
Native to North American districts, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is that Little House on the Prairie tall grass that seems to thrive in summer. It is capable of producing high yields with very low amounts of fertilizer; therefore agricultural chemicals are practically non-existent throughout its use. Not only that, but due to its situation along some of the tougher land areas of North America it has been proven to be very tolerant of poor soils, flooding and drought; and is capable of withstanding some of the toughest concerns for ecologists when considering bio-fuels as a viable power alternative.
These robust lowland grasses – tough as they are – have been ‘talent-spotted’ by energy companies throughout America for a reason. Due to their surplus states of land and expansive agricultural plains, it’s clear why this earth-bound natural source has been promoted to the more serious position of possible power alternative – joining associates such as wind and solar power – over in the US. But is it a viable source here in the UK?
That, as they say, is the real question. Right now, with under-developed and limited land sights, switchgrass in the UK is not an impossibility, but is not a particularly effective or economic use of an alternative option for sourcing power. But this is the crux of the situation: there is not one sole solution in sight for tackling the nebulous threats of climate change. Far from it, in fact. Ecologists will advocate that in order to not ‘tackle’ but ‘stop’ climate change, every avenue towards a sustainable solution must be explored. And just like its compatriots in the renewable battleground, switchgrass and bio fuels, just like solar and wind power, must start somewhere in order to reach similar and achievable success.
