A team of researchers from the University of Queensland has found a surprising new use for invasive weeds—turning them into clean-burning fuel.
The study, led by Dr. Bruno de Almeida Moreira from UQ’s Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, looked at 15 common weed species found west of Brisbane to see if they could be made into biomass pellets, which are a type of solid biofuel.
The results were promising. Two fast-growing vines—Brazilian Nightshade and Climbing Asparagus—showed strong potential for use as fuel.
These weeds were processed into high-quality pellets by Ipswich-based startup WorkEco, using funding from the Australian Government’s Strategic University Reform Fund (SURF).
The study’s findings were published in the journal Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments.
Traditionally, biomass pellets have been made from forest wood. However, new regulations in Australia mean that wood pellets are no longer considered renewable energy.
That’s why researchers are looking for alternative materials, and weeds may be a great option.
According to Dr. Moreira, the key lies in a natural substance called lignin, which helps plants hold their shape. Lignin is important in making pellets strong and efficient for burning. The tested weeds contain about 25% lignin—similar to the levels found in wood.
“What’s exciting is that we’ve been able to create market-grade pellets from these weeds,” Dr. Moreira explained. “That means they’re good enough to sell as biofuel.”
Study co-author Associate Professor Sudhir Yadav, who leads UQ’s AgriSustain lab, said the project’s broader goal is to make agriculture more environmentally friendly.
He pointed out that bioenergy—energy made from natural materials—is expected to provide 20% of Australia’s energy by 2050, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
“This may sound ambitious, but it’s doable,” said Dr. Yadav. “To get there, we need to explore many sources of biomass—including not just weeds, but also leftover crop materials, wood chips, and even animal manure.”
Using weeds for fuel has another big benefit: it helps the environment by removing invasive plants that damage local ecosystems.
And there’s potential for community benefits too. The project could create new business opportunities for startups like WorkEco and help local councils manage green waste more sustainably.
Still, the work is just getting started. The team plans to test more weed species and explore other sources of biomass, such as household green waste and broadacre crops like sorghum.
As Dr. Yadav noted, “We know weeds won’t be a long-term solution on their own, but they’re a great starting point in the move toward cleaner, more sustainable energy.”
