Earth Sense Energy USA, Inc.'s role in the Biomass Economy. 

Earth Sense Energy USA, Inc. (ESE) has spent the past 5 years researching a dedicated energy crop, called Miscanthus Giganteus (Mxg) for biomass production. Formed as a corporation in 2009, ESE is scheduled to launch their unparralled Commercialization model in the continental USA before the end of 2011. Founders David Robbins and Stephen Tam have worked diligently developing this model, which encompasses the supply chain from genetics to densified conversion. Our end markets include Cellulosic Ethanol, Coal Electric Utilities for co-burn, industrial and commercial heat applications and the residential pellet fuel market. We have advisors selected for their respective success in their fields and joint venture partners operating in this space in the EU for the past 15 years. As a team this management talent will be more than capable of executing the success of this complex and multi-faceted business. A brief description of the crop and its application as a biofuel feedstock follows:

Giant Miscanthus is the best crop in the southeast for the growth of cellulosic materials. Our base of operation will be Florida.

Several specific benefits of the crop, includes its environmental benefits, the potential for high yield, as well as a high profit potential for farmers. Note that current analysis projects yields measuring up to 25 tons per acre, depending on the specific variety grown, farming practices, geographical location and soil class.

Illinois - Miscanthus Research

Credits:
Iowa State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Giant Miscanthus, which can reach heights of up to 15 feet, contains approximately 10 to 15 percent moisture at harvest. The perennial crop is also highly efficient when it comes to fertilizer use. In addition, it has been shown to be highly drought-tolerant with no known pests. Furthermore, the dense growth pattern of the grass tends to crowd out weeds. The crop is ideal as a habitat for wildlife and fowl. The sterile plant is established using rhizomes and/or small plants. Selecting ESE’s or our JV partner’s technology will ensure the success of the crop stand in the formative years of establishment and growth.

One of the most attractive qualities of Giant Miscanthus is that the crop can be grown on marginal land. In fact, it’s an inefficient use of resources to grow the plant on highly productive lands, particularly if you are competing with high yield corn crops. In short, you don’t need to be planting miscanthus on those kinds of soils. If you have low margin soils because of erodibility, etc., these are the areas to plant miscanthus.

While miscanthus can be cultivated over a wide swath of U.S. farmland, other energy crops have limited geography, due to invasiveness of the species. Miscanthus Giganteus is a sterile hybrid and its regeneration is accomplished through rhizomes, tissue culture and/or vegetative propagation.

Miscanthus: What is it?

Credits:
Iowa State University
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

hardiness zones 6-8 are optimal and latitudes of 30-40 are acceptable for growing of Miscanthus. Overwintering in the first year of crop establishment will be an important consideration for selection of small plants or rhizomes for genetic stock in the geographic region desired. Regions other then these hardiness zones or latitudes may increase the risk of loss in field stands and  cane yields, or both, but Miscanthus has yielded well in colder climates in the world, as demonstrated by the EU’s success with the crop in less than temperate zones. Our technology and our joint venture(jv) partners technology will provide us access to most, if not all states in the continental USA.

One significant benefit of the versatile, high yielding crop is that it can be harvested using “just-in-time” methods, which helps to mitigate many of the storage and logistics challenges that plague many other bioenergy crops. In addition to the fact that the crop can grow on marginal lands, it is possible to harvest the crop two to three times per year.

There are many bio based industrial sectors that could take in Miscanthus Giganteus as feedstock, including power, thermal and biofuel applications. The feasibility of these bioenergy and bio refining projects increases exponentially when the Miscanthus Giganteus plantations are within close proximity of the conversion facility. Densification facilities within a reasonable distance from the growing regions minimize high transportation costs of low bulk density bales or green/brown chop. High bulk density of cubed/briquetted/pelletized Miscanthus allows for high volume shipments of product via rail or truck to locations over several hundreds of miles from regional densification facilities.

Our commercialization model is a viable economic model, without government support programs. However, utilizing these programs (specifically the USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) will help strengthen ESE and farmers bottom lines in the early years of product introduction in the continental USA.