A halophyte is a plant that grows in salty water or can survive salt sprays, such as in saline semideserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores.

Relatively few plant species are halophytes — perhaps only 2% of all existing plants in nature; 98% of all plant species are damaged fairly easily by salinity.

Salicornia is a promising halophyte for use as an oil-bearing crop. In the Middle East — especially in Qatar — a lot of research is concentrated in Salicornia as a source for biokerosene.

Adaptation to saline environments by halophytes may take the form of salt tolerance or salt avoidance. In other words, some plants can absorb the salt and others simply neglect it.

4.11

Sugarcane

Sugarcane is so inherently connected with Brazil that we have taken the liberty to describe all the ins and outs of sugarcane in Chapter 13 that is specifically devoted to biofuels in Brazil.

4.12

Miscanthus

The US Southeast and many parts of the Midwest are optimal regions for biomass production from high-yielding perennial grasses, and a renewable fuel sourced from Freedom Giant Miscanthus could easily meet this growing need. The grass can be pelletized (i. e., turned into energy pellets). The pellets can then be used by coal-fired electricity-generating plants as a source of low-emissions fuel. Currently, power plants from all over the world are buying pelletized Miscanthus. Europe is an especially strong market.

There are around 15 varieties and the plant can grow to heights of more than 3.5 meters per season. Its dry weight annual yield can reach 25 tonnes per hectare (10 tonnes per acre). It is sometimes called "Elephant grass.” Its rapid growth and high biomass yield makes it a favorite choice as a biofuel.

Miscanthus can be transformed into ethanol. It can also be burned to produce heat and steam for power turbines. It can be pelletized and it is usually not consumed by humans. When blended in a 50/50 mixture with coal, Miscanthus biomass can be used in some current coal-burning power plants without modifications.

4.13