A Versatile Natural Resource with Renewable Energy Potential

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Bamboo commonly mistaken for a tree is in fact a grass. Bamboos include some of the fastest growing plants in the world with certain species capable of growing up to 36 inches within a 24-hour period. Bamboo is of notable economic and cultural significance across Asia, being used as a food source (bamboo shoots), in medicinal applications and for building materials. Additionally, its being increasingly used in the manufacturing of fabrics and as an energy source.

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From a medicinal standpoint Bamboo is produced into activated charcoal and used in a variety of products for its toxin removal, digestive cleansing and anti-aging properties. It is found in teeth whitening, water filtration and cosmetic products by large global brands such as L’Oreal, Pantene and Biore.

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As a building material, Bamboo offers tremendous potential as a sustainable building material that can help reduce large scale logging and combat illegal logging. Its fast growing nature and higher compressive strength than wood, brick or concrete, and a specific tensile strength that rivals steel makes it an ideal building material in flooring, panels, walls and furniture.

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Commonly used as an energy source through charcoal production, primarily in Africa, recent research has also indicated Bamboo is an ideal candidate as a biomass feedstock source for large scale power generation. It grows quickly and has been found to produce similar heat to coal whilst providing significantly lower ash content potentially replacing palm shells as a key biomass source, if not coal itself.  

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