Chinese scientists have developed a technology to generate electricity from *Phragmites australis*, an invasive plant species that is disrupting the ecosystem in the country.
This technology was proposed by researchers from Shandong University and other institutes, led by the Technology and Science Development Center of the Ministry of Education.
The new anaerobic technology transforms the hydrogen and carbon elements in this grass species into a flammable gas. After impurities are removed, this gas can be utilized for cooking, operating power plants, and heating.
Vietnam is also facing the threat of ecological imbalance due to many foreign plant species, such as *Mikania micrantha* and *Eichhornia crassipes*.
*Phragmites australis* was introduced to China in the 1970s to serve as a binding agent for coastal land. However, it has become an ecological threat after unchecked growth. More than 100 species in China are at risk of ecological imbalance due to this invasive grass.
Experiments have shown that 1 kg of *Phragmites australis* can produce 2 cubic meters of combustible gas, generating 1 kWh of electricity. If all 3 million hectares of this grass are processed, China could obtain 50-75 billion kWh of electricity.