Energy Crops

Energy crops are a type of cultivated biomass available on a renewable basis that could be used to generate biofuels or directly exploited for its energy content (combustion, gasification etc.). Theoretically, all plant species could be included in biomass energy production systems, however only a limited number of them meet the standard requirements of a good feedstock for bioenergy purposes. Realizing the potential of energy crops necessitate the identification of dedicated energy crops and quality traits that optimize the biomass production and the energy yield of these crops in a given location. Currently, traditional food crops such as soybean, maize, sugarcane, rapeseed, among others, are being used as energy crops, while a new generation of dedicated energy crops is attracting growing interest by researchers and stakeholders. Examples of such crops that are in the process or already being commercialized are switchgrass, miscanthus, sweet sorghum, hybrid poplar, and willows. Some of these crops may compete for land and resources with existing food crops, while others could be grown in marginal/degraded lands with consequent beneficial effects for the environment and landscape. Moreover, growing energy crops is a non traditional land use which may boost farm incomes, employment, energy security, and the rural economy in general. As the technology of biomass energy conversion improves and crop yields increase, the cost of producing renewable energy will reduce and become more competitive against fossil energy. The evidence indicates that demand for energy crops will grow rapidly in a short term.