The unexpected benefits of canary grass
Canary grass planted to transform brownfield sites has added eco-benefits
Researchers seeking to beautify contaminated industrial sites found success in more ways than one when they struck upon an unexpected new source for green biomass fuel.
The team from Teeside University's Contaminated Land and Water Centre began a project in 2004 to see which plants could be successfully grown on ugly brownfield sites as a way of improving unsightly blots on the landscape.
They duly discovered that reed canary grass, a native plant, not only grows well on polluted sites, but can eventually be harvested for energy at biomass power stations.
Richard Lord, a researcher in environmental geochemistry and sustainability, said tests showed that reed canary grass produces "a good, clean fuel without picking up contamination from the soil".
He added that the find was significant because it offered a suitable use for unsightly brownfield sites while producing an excellent fuel at a time when the world is "crying out" for new ways of producing green energy.
"In areas like Teesside, and many similar ones around the country, there are a lot of marginal or brownfield sites on which reed canary grass can be grown," he added.
Growing canary grass on contaminated land also improves soil quality and biodiversity, Mr Lord said.
Teesside University is now looking into ways to commercialise the idea and has begun talking with a number of major biomass power station operators.
On a similar note, the first biogas supply is due to be delivered to the UK this year by green energy company Ecotricity.
