Water use overlooked in energy crop impact work

Edie.net
30 August 2011, source edie newsroom

Water use has been ignored when the environmental impacts of bioenergy crops have been researched, according to new research.

The work, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition this week, claims efficient large-scale biofuel production by using large grasses like miscanthus or switchgrass rather than corn is 'exciting'.

But, the impact on water resources has been largely 'overlooked' by previous studies, according to researchers from the University of Illinois in the US.

According to the research miscanthus and switchgrass offer better yields for biomass per acre when compared to corn.

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