Aquatic plants: an opportunity feedstock in the age of bioenergy

Abstract

There is a growing impetus to identify and develop bioenergy feedstocks that can be harnessed in ways that do not require major land-use intensification or use of food crops. Although invasive aquatic plants have long been regarded as an intriguing potential feedstock because of their high growth rate in natural water bodies, most contemporary management is based on plant control rather than utilization. This review presents a comparative life cycle overview of modern aquatic plant control and alternative bioenergy utilization programs, highlighting costs and benefits associated with both approaches. Given recent advances in harvester and bioenergy conversion technologies, it may be cost effective to incorporate utilization techniques in many water bodies, particularly if ancillary benefits associated with nutrient removal and greenhouse-gas reductions are given monetary credit. Pilot projects and site-specific evaluations are, however, needed to determine the ultimate scale in which bioenergy production from aquatic plants will be feasible.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.