After genetic transformation, "super giant reed", a bamboo-like grass, has become a high-yield renewable resource.

The biomass of super giant reed — an indicator of its potential as a fuel source — surpasses that of wild giant reed 3 times over. These new varieties have a calorific value of 4,000 to 4,500 kilocalories per kilogram, or two-thirds of standard coal, making them a potential substitute for fossil fuels. 

Panting 40 million hectares of super giant reed could replace 2.2 billion tons of coal used in power generation in China, cutting CO2 emissions by 4 billion tons.