Eucalyptus Trees

Researchers from the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory have announced that lignin-modified Eucalyptus trees developed by ArborGen release more than twice the usual amount of sugar, making it a promising option as a biomass feedstock for liquid fuel.

Unlike the pine trees used in Southern plantations — which have quietly helped displace tobacco in the region’s economy — eucalyptus can deploy a full canopy of leaves within a few years. It is greedy for carbon, and within 27 months can grow to 55 feet in height^[1]. ArborGen points out that the high growth rate will allow the company to grow more wood on less land, which could provide a boost to the region’s timber exports, and increase its potential to serve as a biofuel feedstock^[2].

In the first large-scale planting of designer trees in the United States, ArborGen was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture to plant 250,000 genetically-modified eucalyptus trees in the states of Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana.

Eucalyptus trees have also come into focus as a possible source for cheaper renewable aviation fuels: Virgin Australia, Australia's second biggest airline, has formed a biofuels joint venture with several energy groups focused on the native mallee species of the tree as it seeks to slash its carbon footprint and reduce costs^[3].

See also: Biotech Tree, ArborGen

References:

1. Paul Voosen. USDA Weighs Plan to Bring GM Eucalyptus to Southeast Pinelands. The New York Times (New York, New York) January 29, 2010.
2. Will Genetically Modified Eucalyptus Trees Transform Southern Forests? Discover Magazine February 1, 2010.
3. Ross Kelley. "Virgin Australia Researching Eucalyptus Leaves as Jet Fuel." The Wall Street Journal (Sydney, Australia) July 6, 2011.