VIASPACE Giant King Grass Featured in April Issue of Biomass Power & Thermal Magazine

IRVINE, Calif., April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- VIASPACE Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VSPC), a clean energy company growing Giant King™ Grass as a low-carbon, renewable biomass crop and its subsidiary VIASPACE Green Energy Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VGREF), today reported VIASPACE Giant King Grass was featured in an article published in the April issue of Biomass Power & Thermal Magazine, a monthly trade publication for industry professionals engaged in utilizing biomass for the generation of electricity, thermal energy, or both.

The article is titled "Trends in Thailand--A push for biomass power expansion might make Thailand a prime market in the global industry" -- features an interview with VIASPACE CEO Dr. Carl Kukkonen, a picture of Giant King Grass, and DP CleanTech with whom VIASPACE has signed a memorandum of understanding.

VIASPACE is working with several companies in Thailand on opportunities for Giant King Grass to be used as a fuel for biomass electric power plants, and as a feedstock for producing biogas through anaerobic digestion. Giant King Grass has been extensively tested and is suitable to be burned in power plants and has excellent biogas production. The high yield of Giant King Grass makes it attractive as a reliable, low cost alternative to coal and oil for electricity and biofuels production. Giant King Grass can be used as 100% of the fuel or feedstock, or can be combined with other agricultural waste.  

According to the BIOMASS magazine article, "Government policy in Thailand encourages further power production from biomass than is already being realized. That expansion could catapult the country to the top of the biomass market chain, and global companies are starting to take notice. Recognizing Thailand's potential, China-based solutions provider DP CleanTech has opened an office in Bangkok, after successful development of many biomass power plants in China, and more in the works. 'DP CleanTech has identified Thailand to be the next major market in its rapid rollout of biomass power systems in Southeast Asia,' the company's website says."

BIOMASS magazine continues, "But that expansion could also cause competition for feedstocks and, according to some, even a shortage.  And on the heels of that shortage comes a price increase for raw material according to Kukkonen.  VIASPACE is working with several companies in Thailand that are interested in growing and using its trademarked biomass feedstock, Giant King Grass, as a cheaper alternative to pricier feedstock materials available now. The price hike has increased plant operating costs for companies in long-term power purchase agreements that were signed with lower feedstock price assumptions, Kukkonen says. Since relying on the spot market has proven to be an ineffective strategy, companies are looking for a more reliable and secure feedstock, he adds. Most biomass power plants in Thailand either use direct combustion or employ anaerobic digestion processes."

The full article can be accessed online at http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5375/trends-in-thailand.

About VIASPACE Inc.

VIASPACE is a clean energy company providing products and technology for renewable and alternative energy that reduce or eliminate dependence on fossil and high-pollutant energy sources. Through its majority-owned subsidiary VIASPACE Green Energy Inc., the Company grows Giant King Grass as a low-carbon fuel for electricity generating power plants, as a feedstock for bio methane production and cellulosic biofuels, and for other low-carbon, renewable energy products. VIASPACE recently introduced its Green Log™ fireplace and campfire log product. For more information, please go to www.viaspace.com or contact Dr. Jan Vandersande, Director of Communications, at 800-517-8050 or [email protected].

Safe Harbor Statement

Information in this news release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, risks outlined in our periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as general economic and business conditions; the ability to acquire and develop specific products and technologies; changes in consumer and business demand for the Company's products; competition from larger companies; changes in demand for alternative and clean energy; risks associated with international transactions; risks related to technological change; and other factors over which VIASPACE has little or no control.

SOURCE VIASPACE Inc.