Projects

Vermont Grass Energy Partnership

VSJF is currently funding and conducting applied research in partnership with the University of Vermont Plant & Soil Science Department and the Biomass Energy Resource Center (BERC).  This research will lead to perennial grass biomass production and management recommendations, with the goal of expanding biomass production for energy in Vermont over the coming decade.

The Need: Vermont specific research is needed to address a number of issues related to the production, distribution and use of perennial grasses for space heating applications.  Because Vermont has good soils and existing infrastructure to grow perennial grasses, there is increased interest in developing this energy resource.  In order to successfully produce traditional prairie grasses such as switchgrass and big bluestem, farmers need agronomic data that is specific to Vermont.  Phase 1 research by the Vermont Grass Energy Partnership is focused on developing baseline knowledge for the production, processing, and combustion of grass and grass/wood blend pellet fuels. Phase 2 will work to develop best practices, new markets, and increase capacity.

The Opportunity:  Almost 1/3 of Vermont’s total energy demand is for heating purposes (including business processing), and nearly 60% of the heating fuel used in the state is No.2 heating oil. How much of Vermont's demand for fossil-derived fuels can be offset with local, renewable grasses?

Vermont farms are well suited for grass biomass production, with over 100,000 acres in pasture or cover crops and an additional 100,000 acres of former cropland not currently in production. The Vermont Grass Energy Partnership is working to evaluate the limits of grass as a fuel feedstock, by studying the agronomy, chemical analysis, combustion performance and emissions of grass-derived pelletized fuels.

Activities To-Date:

BERC has provided a Grass Energy Basics primer on their website.

Presentations, notes and photos from the 2008 Grass Energy Symposium are available.

In 2009, UVM Plant & Soil Science Professor, Dr. Sid Bosworth, received a $58,500 grant to establish perennial grass trials to evaluate different varieties and begin to develop best practices for the cultivation and processing of high yield biomass crops.

During 2009-2010, the Vermont Grass Energy Partnership is implementing a “field-to-flue” research project that is analyzing grass varieties, pellet formulations using grass and wood and conducting test burns to study combustion & emissions. The switchgrass was obtained from test plots overseen by Dr. Bosworth during the 2009 growing season.  The pellets were produced by VT Wood Pellet Company (North Clarendon) and the test burns were conducted in a Sologen at All Souls Interfaith Gathering (Shelburne) between December, 2009 and January 2010. Results of this applied research project will be the centerpiece of the upcoming Grass Energy Symposium in April, 2010.