Biofuels: Alaska's new power plants?
Growing research may offer alternatives to fossil fuels in Alaska.
By Todd Paris
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Alaska grasses and grains may hold the key to rural fuel woes
Seifert isn't alone in his contention that burning fossil fuel to transport biofuel can be both economically and environmentally unfriendly. UAF's Professor Stephen Sparrow and his colleague, Associate Professor Mingchu Zhang, are studying a variety of local grasses and grains to determine if there's an untapped energy source that’s readily available in many parts of Alaska.
"The energy content in these biofuels is simply not comparable to coal or oil, so it makes no sense to try to transport it long distances," Sparrow said. "We're looking primarily at local usage as a supplement to existing sources, rather than a sole energy source. But in rural Alaska if we could substitute, say, 30 percent biofuel for diesel, that would be fantastic."
"There's a lot of interest in utilizing biofuels in Western Alaska, near Bethel and on the Seward Peninsula," Sparrow said. "They're particularly interested in willows and native grasses that are well adapted and easy to grow in that environment. We're just trying to get a handle on whether these plants can produce enough energy to be worth carrying out some more detailed studies at the next stage."
Zhang's work includes studies of canola, or rapeseed, which has one of the highest oil contents of any domestic crop. Growing canola in Interior Alaska has been tried before without much success, primarily because of a short growing season that doesn't give seeds enough time to mature, resulting in an unappealing green oil. But Zhang says biodiesel may be a viable alternative market for Alaska canola. "If it's going into a fuel tank, it doesn't matter what it looks like."
Zhang said another benefit of growing canola in the Interior is that it provides a valuable rotational crop for local farmers.
"Most of the farmers in Delta have only been growing barley, but it would be good for the soil to rotate their fields with another marketable grain."
And Zhang said he's not ready to give up on canola as a source of commercial-grade food oil.
"Canola oil from central Canada sells for about $15 dollars a gallon in local grocery stores. I think the opportunity exists to be able to compete with that and create a market for locally produced, 'Made in Alaska' canola oil."