Chinese scientists have developed a technology to generate power from English cordgrass, an alien plant that has been blamed for biological invasion.

The technology was developed by scientists from Shandong University and other institutions directed by the Scientific and Technological Development Center of the Ministry of Education.

The new technology anoxically turns carbon and hydrogen elements in the cordgrass into flammable gas. After it has been decontaminated, the gas can be used for cooking, power generation and heating.

English cordgrass was introduced into China in the 1970s as a binder for coastal soil, but it became a biological threat after rampant growth. More than 100 counties in China are currently threatened by the alien plant.

Experiments show that one kilogram of English cordgrass can produce two cubic meters of flammable gas, which can generate one kilowatt-hour of electricity. If all of its 3.3 million hectares of English cordgrass were processed, China would be able to harvest 50 billion to 75 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2005)