A three year project to develop a more sustainable biofuel feedstock by focusing on sugar-rich varieties of perennial ryegrass was unveilled by Aberystwyth University today (26th November). The Grassohol project brings together the expertise of eight partners who are leaders in their respective fields; Aber Instruments Ltd, Alvan Blanch, Germinal Holdings Ltd, IBERS, National Farmers Union, ONE 51 Plc, TMO Renewables and Wynnstay Group Plc.

Every link in the production chain is being studied in detail by the project team - from the farmer right through to the biofuel distributor - to develop a commercially viable biofuel production process which has minimal impact on the environment.

“The Grassohol project has only been made possible by the invaluable expertise that each partner brings to the table,” said IBERS research scientist and Project Director Dr Joe Gallagher. “It offers significant potential for biofuel production and the involvement of each partner demonstrates the commercial importance of the research as we move inexorably towards a bio-based economy.”

“Farmers in the UK are experts on growing pasture and the use of these crops for biorefining will make an important contribution to both farm income and the UK economy whilst maintaining the traditional look of the countryside”, he added.

The team are using high-sugar varieties of perennial ryegrass, developed at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), and experimenting with different soils, fertilizers and companion crops such as white clover, with the aim of reducing dependency on artificial oil-based fertilizers.

Dr Kirstin Eley, Project Manager at TMO Renewables, supports Dr Gallagher’s enthusiasm for the research, commenting “This is a real opportunity to demonstrate the potential of a commercially relevant process using an abundant UK non-food crop feedstock and we are excited to be a part of this collaboration, working alongside other leading groups.”

Early results are promising and indicate that up to 4,500 litres of ethanol per hectare of ryegrass could be produced every year, comparable with other energy crops but with the advantage of being environmentally friendly, capable of growing on poorer land and with cheaper management costs.

The project is supported by the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through the Renewable Materials LINK programme, and by the Welsh Assembly Government’s Academic Expertise for Business programme, supported by European Structural Funds.