A new British-Ukrainian initiative is using miscanthus (elephant grass) to restore and sustain Ukraine's fragile energy supply. The project, called MERIT, focuses on utilizing abandoned and contaminated land. The goal is twofold: to create a reliable, decentralized energy source for reconstruction and to restore soil quality.
Terravesta, a British company specialising in miscanthus chains, launched the MERIT project this month (Miscanthus Evaluation for Resilience, Innovation and TransformationWith support from the British government (through the InnovateUkraine program), technology and expertise are being exported to reduce Ukraine's reliance on centralized, fossil-fuel energy systems.
Decentralized power for local communities
The war has painfully demonstrated the vulnerability of a centralized energy grid. The MERIT project therefore opts for a decentralized approach. By growing elephant grass locally and converting it into heat and power via small-scale power plants in the immediate region, communities become self-sufficient. This not only reduces dependence on imports but also makes the energy supply much more resilient to external disruptions.
Remediation of 'lost' land
A technically interesting aspect for the biomass sector is the choice of location. Ukraine is struggling with large areas of land contaminated by war or lying fallow. Miscanthus is ideally suited for these so-called marginal lands.
This means the crop doesn't compete with food production. In fact, elephant grass is known for its phytoremediation properties: it can absorb certain contaminants from the soil and improve soil structure. This combines energy production with ecological restoration.
From energy to building materials
Florian Ilias, director of Terravesta, outlines the broader economic picture: “The project has an impact on two levels. In the short term, we stimulate local economies and make land useful again. In the long term, we support Ukraine in its transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Besides its use as a biofuel, the project is also exploring miscanthus as a raw material for the construction sector (for example, as insulation or biocomposite). This could help make the Ukrainian construction sector more sustainable and reduce the import of building materials.
The project is a collaboration between Terravesta, Liverpool John Moores University, and Ukrainian partners such as LLC Miscanthus Technology. Demonstration fields are being established in various regions of Ukraine. Here, farmers will receive training in cultivation and data will be collected on logistics, CO2 storage, and biodiversity. This data should form the basis for a large-scale rollout of the bioeconomy in the region.
Source: Terravesta
