Harvesting biomass with modified equipment
November 17, 2011
By
David Manly
Nov. 17, 2011, Champaign, IL - Researchers at the University of Illinois are exploring new and innovative ways to improve efficiency and sustainability when harvesting biomass feedstock using available technology.
Nov. 17, 2011, Champaign, IL – Researchers at the University of Illinois
are exploring new and innovative ways to improve efficiency and
sustainability when harvesting biomass feedstock using available
technology.
According to Alan Hansen, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) at the University of Illinois, harvesting biomass presents a whole host of different problems than harvesting normal crops.
In an article from the Southeast Farm Press, Hansen said that their job at the ABE is to assess equipment and see what modifications could help the machines harvest more effectively.
“These
machines are generally set up to harvest crops like hay and forage.
There is some degree of uncertainty related to these machines working in
miscanthus, which is a much denser, taller crop, or even switchgrass, a
shorter grass.”
Hansen's work is part of the Energy Biosciences Initiative, whereh bioscience and biological
techniques are being applied to help solve the global energy challenge.
The partnership, funded with $500 million for 10 years from the energy
company BP, includes researchers from UC Berkeley, the University of
Illinois, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Details about
the EBI can be found at www.energybiosciencesinstitute.org.
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