Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) conducted trials in 2012 to demonstrate the commercial-scale harvesting of cattail (Typha spp.) biomass in Manitoba for use as a renewable energy feedstock and for phosphorus removal from watersheds.

• In 2012, IISD and the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) demonstrated that cattails could be harvested using commercial grain and forage equipment, including a MacDon Industries Ltd. windrower swather and both square and round balers. The trials took place in ditches along Highway #1 and at Pelly’s Lake near Holland, Manitoba, resulting in the harvest of nearly 300 tonnes of cattail and the removal of an estimated 240 kilograms of phosphorus (P).
• Operational efficiency was influenced by weather and site conditions; below-normal precipitation during the growing season facilitated cutting, while above-normal fall precipitation hindered baling. The report notes that managing water levels would improve costs and efficiencies, and that using agricultural equipment in these conditions may require a price premium due to operational risk.
• As part of the project's first phase, 60 cattail bales were transported to Saskatchewan to be converted into biocarbon. This biocarbon is intended for energy value assessment and for use in greenhouse fertility, soil trials, and field-scale agricultural crop fertilizer trials.

APA

,, R. G. G. (2015). Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon

Chicago

,, Richard Grosshans,Lorne Grieger. Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=, |first1=Richard Grosshans,Lorne Grieger |title=Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=20 January 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{2015cattail, author = {,, Richard Grosshans,Lorne Grieger}, title = {{Cattail Biomass to Energy: Commercial-scale harvesting of cattail biomass for biocarbon and solid fuel}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/cattail-biomass-energy-commercial-scale-harvesting-cattail-biomass-biocarbon}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }