The VIASPACE Green Energy subsidiary grows and markets proprietary Giant King Grass, a renewable cellulosic non-food resource for: 1) producing low-carbon liquid biofuels for transportation, such as cellulosic ethanol, methanol and green gasoline (“grassoline”); and 2) a full or partial substitute for coal to reduce carbon emissions from electricity-generating power plants.

Giant King Grass is a perennial fast-growing plant that grows up to 4 m tall and can be harvested four times a year in tropical and subtropical regions with yields up to 156 metric tons (wet) per acre per year. Giant King Grass has much higher yield than competing grasses such as switchgrass and miscanthus.

VGE initially planted 1.2 million seedlings in late 2008 in Guangdong province in southern China. 3 million new grass seedlings propagated from the initial planting are now growing on 112 acres of land leased for 25 years in China.