Miscanthus specialist, Terravesta, has announced the launch of the MERIT (Miscanthus Evaluation for Resilience, Innovation and Transformation) project, designed to help Ukraine’s energy recovery by transforming abandoned and contaminated land into a renewable energy asset.
Locally grown Miscanthus will be used to supply small to medium-scale power plants, decentralizing the energy infrastructure and making it less vulnerable to attacks. Miscanthus will also provide raw materials for the domestic building materials sector, decreasing dependence on imports.
Supported by the UK government through its InnovateUkraine program funded by the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) and UK International Development, the MERIT project will develop scalable Miscanthus supply chains and agronomic models to enable Ukraine to harness its potential for domestic biomass production while creating economic opportunities for Ukrainian farmers.
“There are two main goals of this project,” explains Florian Ilias, Terravesta managing director. “Energy system impact and socioeconomic impact. In the short term, the project enables local energy economies to flourish, using and cleaning war-contaminated land no longer fit for food production. In the long term, it supports Ukraine’s transition to a more secure, low-carbon economy.
“The project will also create jobs, sequester carbon, and restore contaminated land, as well as improving energy access and promoting social inclusion.”
The project brings together a strong international partnership. As lead partner, Terravesta is collaborating with Liverpool John Moores University as scientific partner, LLC Miscanthus Technology (Ukraine) as technology lead, and remote monitoring and agronomy partner LLC Fendt (Ukraine).
A step towards energy independence and climate resilience
“MERIT is about delivering practical support for Ukraine at a critical time,” says Florian. “By unlocking Miscanthus production, we can help Ukraine replace lost energy capacity, reduce carbon emissions, and build a secure, local biomass resource for heat and power.”
The project will demonstrate Miscanthus’s role in restoring degraded land, building climate resilience, and providing a reliable, low-input crop that supports rural communities in recovery.
Working with Ukrainian farmers and partners, the MERIT project will:
● Establish demonstration sites across various climate areas showcasing Miscanthus as a sustainable biomass source.
● Provide training, planting models, and agronomic support tailored to Ukrainian conditions.
● Assess logistics, processing, and market pathways for Miscanthus-derived bioenergy.
● Generate evidence on carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits to inform policy frameworks and support biomass adoption.
Supporting a sustainable future for Ukraine
Scaling up Miscanthus cultivation will enable Ukraine to develop a home-grown decentralized renewable energy source that displaces fossil fuels. It also reduces vulnerability to energy disruptions, and contributes to Ukraine’s net zero goals, while regenerating soils and supporting biodiversity.
