Feeding People from Water
Millennium Bio Energy uses water hyacinth as biomass for the production of energy. Water Hyacinth infestations block sunlight from reaching the underwater ecosystem, disturbing the food-chain and resulting in starvation of fish and plants. It also form thick mats which blocks transportation across the water ways. As masses of water hyacinth plants die, they form a tick layer of decaying biomass on the bottom of the water ways which acidifies the water which kills most remaining forms of underwater life.
Millennium Bio Energy uses the water hyacinth to produce energy and so controls its population to a sustainable level, which solves both an ecological problem as well as an economic problem. |
Food or Fuel
The key commercial - and ethical dilemma around the production of energy from biomass is the conflict between using the biomass in question to feed animals or people or to apply the biomass in the production of energy. Both alternatives benefit mankind. However, as soon as such competition emerges, the price of the biomass commodity increases, which affects people's access to affordable food as well as people's access to affordable renewable energy. It is therefore important to us to make the right choice on forehand.
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Water Hyacinth Infestations
Water Hyacinth is the world's most invasive aquatic weed. The water hyacinth plant reproduces through the production of up to 3000 seeds per plant per year as well as spontaneous dissociation of stolons whereby parts of the plant disconnect and so creates a second plant. A water hyacinth reproduces every 6 to 15 days, depending on the availability of nutrients and climatic conditions.
Water hyacinth therefore quickly invades a water surface and - when the density has reached a critical value - forms thick mats of intertwined water hyacinth leaves. Such mats begin to block the sunlight from reaching the underwater ecosystem after which underwater life will soon begin starving. In addition, as the water hyacinth plants reach the end of their lives, they will sink to the bottom of the water way and decay. The bottom of the water ways are eventually covered with plant biomass and choke every other form of life on such water way floors. Ultimately, the water acidifies, making life impossible for practically any form of life.
To date, there is no know method of fully eliminating water hyacinth infestations. There are three known ways to exercise some level of control:
Water hyacinth therefore quickly invades a water surface and - when the density has reached a critical value - forms thick mats of intertwined water hyacinth leaves. Such mats begin to block the sunlight from reaching the underwater ecosystem after which underwater life will soon begin starving. In addition, as the water hyacinth plants reach the end of their lives, they will sink to the bottom of the water way and decay. The bottom of the water ways are eventually covered with plant biomass and choke every other form of life on such water way floors. Ultimately, the water acidifies, making life impossible for practically any form of life.
To date, there is no know method of fully eliminating water hyacinth infestations. There are three known ways to exercise some level of control:
- Mechanical - an aggressive campaign to physically remove the plant from the water will keep the water clean - for a while. The presence of a few remaining plants and the millions of seeds in the water ensures the plant will soon re-establish its presence.
- Chemical - chemicals have been used successfully in several locations around the world. However, this is a crude solution which targets aquatic life indiscriminately and of which it is unknown what the long term effects on the environment will be. As soon as the use of chemicals is terminated, the water hyacinth returns.
- Biological - Foreign species can be introduced to attack the water hyacinth plant. There are no known sites where foreign species have had a lasting effect. This approach poses a substantial risk of creating two infestations rather than just one.
Contact: Millennium Bio Energy, Ceintuurbaan 119, 1072 EZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands tel +31 20 369 0315 info@millenniumbioenergy.com