Is grass greener as a clean energy source?

GARDEN grass could become a source of clean renewable energy, scientists have claimed.

Experts from Cardiff University’s Cardiff Catalysis Institute are among a team of UK researchers to have shown that significant amounts of hydrogen can be unlocked from fescue grass with the help of sunlight and a cheap catalyst.

They say it is the first time that this method has been demonstrated and could potentially lead to a sustainable way of producing hydro- gen. “This really is a green source of energy,” said Professor Michael Bowker of Cardiff Catalysis Institute.

“Hydrogen is seen as an important future energy carrier as the world moves from fossil fuels to renewable feed stocks, and our research has shown that even garden grass could be a good way of getting hold of it.”

Hydrogen has potential in the renewable energy industry due to its high energy content and because it does not release toxic or greenhouse gases when it is burnt.

The gas is contained in enormous quantities all over in the world in water and other organic matter.

Up until now, the challenge has been devising ways of unlocking hydrogen in a cheap, efficient and sustainable way.

A promising source is the organic compound cellulose, which is a key component of plants.

The team investigated the possibility of converting cel- lulose into hydrogen using sunlight and a simple catalyst – a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction without getting used up.

The researchers studied the effectiveness of three metal-based catalysts – palladium, gold and nickel.

They combined the three catalysts with cellulose and subjected the mixture to light from a desk lamp.

At 30-minute intervals the researchers collected gas samples from the mixture and analysed it to see how much hydrogen was being produced.

Professor Bowker added: “We’ve demonstrated the effectiveness of the process using real grass taken from a garden.

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this kind of raw biomass has been used to produce hydrogen in this way.”

The team, which also includes researchers from Queen’s University Belfast, have published their findings in the Royal Society journal Proceedings A.