Abengoa Energy Crops committed more than $1 million annually to support a three-year research project in South Carolina on the use of different trees and grass-like species to produce sustainable biomass for energy.
Clemson University with Abengoa will help lead the Carolina Energy Crop Alliance to search for ways to open new markets for South Carolina landowners and support the growing global demand for renewable energy.
“The more crop and tree options we are able to combine for biomass production, the more productive and sustainable it will be,” Fabian Capdevielle, research and development manager for Abengoa Energy Crops, said in a release. “Field research is needed to evaluate where both limitations and opportunities exist for these new crops.”
The field research will be based at the Pee Dee REC but will include activities throughout South Carolina’s Coastal Plain.
The alliance will focus on five primary research and education areas: sustainability of feedstock production; genetic development of new tree feedstocks; silviculture trials to analyze forest health; analysis of the management, harvest and storage of grass-type feedstocks; and landowner and public education programs.
Alliance partners include Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing Inc., which is leasing land to Clemson to conduct agricultural research; ArborGen Inc., which is providing trees for testing; and NexSteppe Inc., which will collaborate on the development of new biomass sorghum hybrids for the region.
