Reed sweet-grass
Plants and bacteria living in water. And then there was power. In Wageningen researchers have succeeded in getting electricity from reed sweet-grass. If all the tests are successful, one hectare of plants will be able to supply the annual electricity requirements of 28 homes. Energy agency SenterNovem and Nuon are subsidising this research.
How do you get power from reed sweet-grass?
The roots of reed sweet-grass secrete sugar. The excess sugar feeds bacteria, which break down the sugars, thereby forming electrons. The area around the root, which no oxygen can reach, is a sort of fuel cell. If you connect it with a wire to an electrode above the ground, which air can reach, the electrons jump across the air gap, thereby creating electricity.
What is reed sweet-grass?
Reed sweet-grass is a small reed-like plant with light green leaves. It can grow to a height of 90 to 200 cm, has a hollow stem and forms long shoots. Reed sweet-grass blooms in July and August with large plumes and occurs on nutrient-rich ground in shallow ditches, on shorelines and in marshy grasslands.
Clean power day and night
So the plant lives above the ground while electricity is created below the surface. The remarkable thing is that this vegetable power station continues producing 24 hours a day. The plant has such a reserve of sugar that it is released even at night.
What are the benefits of reed sweet-grass in comparison with other biomass?
The beauty of reed sweet-grass is that the farmers do not have to harvest it, fertilise it or transport it and that it releases no hazardous air pollution. Morover, reeds do not use up valuable agricultural land. This is because the plants live in water and they can grow almost everywhere in the Netherlands.