Is there any ethanol being produced from switch grass in the United States?

Question

Obviously we produce a lot from corn but has anyone in the US, other than researchers, produced ethanol from switch grass?

Answer 1

To the best of my knowledge this is in late stage development at this point. The link I included below is to the ethanol section of The Energy Blog, which is a great source for breaking news on all aspects of the energy field. The author is especially interested in Peak Oil and the solutions to that looming crisis.

At least five companies are working on this technology (Lignocellulosic technology, which is required with switch grass) as of May 16, 2006. They are Abengoa Bioenergy, Farmacule BioIndustries, Iogen, Xethanol Corporation, and BioEnergy International, LLC ("BioEnergy").

BioEnergy is the latest to announce that they are working on it. This is their press release:

BioEnergy International, LLC ("BioEnergy"), a company developing proprietary technologies to produce ethanol and specialty chemicals from traditional feedstocks as well as lignocellulosics, announced that it has begun site work on its first biorefinery, a 108 million gallon per year ethanol plant located ...in East Carroll Parish, Louisiana. ... The plant ... is expected to commence full-scale construction early in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Initially the plant will produce ethanol from corn using conventional technology. ... BioEnergy intends to rapidly introduce its proprietary technology to produce fuels and specialty chemicals using organic wastes such as bagasse, rice hulls and wood in addition to corn. BioEnergy has a pipeline of projects in various stages of development representing over 400 million gallons of annual ethanol production. Separately, BioEnergy has obtained exclusive licenses for novel biocatalysts and has initiated research to support commercial development of specialty chemicals utilizing these biocatalysts for introduction into the Lake Providence facility in the next several years; thus achieving its goal of becoming a world-scale biorefinery. In addition, BioEnergy has secured an exclusive research agreement with the University of Florida and Dr. Lonnie Ingram to develop proprietary technologies to produce biobased specialty chemicals (other than ethanol) from starch and cellulose derived sugars.

BioEnergy International, LLC, headquartered in Norwell, Massachusetts, is a privately held, biotechnology company focused on developing biorefineries and proprietary technologies to produce specialty chemicals and renewable fuels from both traditional feedstocks and cellulose. BioEnergy currently has two 108 million gallon per year ethanol plants under development which, over time, will utilize its proprietary technologies to produce high value specialty chemicals and renewable fuels.

Answer 2

Switchgrass is being developed as viable energy crop. Renewable energy sources to replace domestic or imported fossil fuels are needed to maintain the viability of the economy of the United States. Development of switchgrass into a viable energy crop could aid in economic revitalization of many areas of rural America and could provide significant soil erosion and other environmental benefits. Available cultivars at three Midwestern locations were evaluated for potential use as fuel crops. Genetic information to develop switchgrass hybrids was determined, as were the first genetic markers for switchgrass. This research has demonstrated that switchgrass is an economically feasible biomass crop. Efforts are now under way to develop cultivars and associated management practices that can produce annual yields of 10 tons of biomass per acre in the Midwest.