Napier grass is a fast growing perennial grass that is endemic to Africa and South East Asia. It has high amount of digestible organic matter along with ability to withstand drought.
It is important for animal feed as well as for bio-energy applications. It is also known as elephant grass.
It is classified as a lignocellulosic biomass which contains high amounts of cellulose, xylan and lignin. These elements make it a viable source of biogas production.
Its use in compressed biogas plants in India is still in nascent stage and a plant using Napier grass is proposed in Junagadh, Gujarat.