Reed canary grass provides rapidly renewable energy

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) is a perennial wild grass that can be cultivated in fields or cut-away areas released from peat production. Its natural habitats are sea and lake shores, ditches and roadsides. In the wild it grows in dense clumps of up to two metres in height.

Reed canary grass is a new crop in Finland. Studies into its potential as a raw material for cellulose and for energy were only started in the 1990s. Reed canary grass has proved to be the highest-yielding grass grown for energy. One hectare can yield in excess of 30 MWh, which is well beyond the annual heating requirement of one detached house.

Reed canary grass needs relatively little fertilizer, and suitable fertilizers include ash, waste water sludge and various composts.

Characteristics of reed canary grass:

• harvest approx. 6-8 tonnes dry matter/hectare
• calorific value 4.5 MWh/per tonne of dry matter
• energy up to in excess of 30 MWh/hectare
• produces harvest for 12-15 years 
• low fertilizing requirement