Growing algae for the purpose of energy production requires analysis of these streams to be able to choose the most economical and environmentally friendly options. Pollution, global warming, and inflated oil prices have led the quest for renewable energy sources. The basic concept of using algae as a renewable feedstock for biofuels production. Pike research, however, projects only 61 million gal 230 million litres of algal biofuels produced by 2020. Microalgae are one of the most studied potential sources of biofuels and bioenergy. The aforementioned organisms are capable to extract and direct protons and electrons derived from water to hydrogen production, catalyzed via chloroplast hydrogenases, namely hyda1 and a2 hydrogenase. Algae were recently considered as a promising thirdgeneration biofuel feedstock due to their superior productivity, high oil content, and environmentally friendly nature. Recent developments in synthetic and systems biology are paving the way for the fourthgeneration biofuels, wherein specially engineered microorganismcrops will serve as feedstock material. Cultivating clean energy the promise of algae biofuels pdf nrdc. Sustainable production of algal biomass and biofuels using. Nov 02, 2012 algal biofuels offer potential advantages over biofuels made from land plants, including algaes ability to grow on noncroplands in cultivation ponds of freshwater, salt water or wastewater. Blaustein institute for desert research, sdeboker joel l. Current status and potential for algal biofuels iea bioenergy task 39. The promise of algae biofuels iv introductory letter a lgaederived gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel sound like the imaginings of science fiction, but a growing number of entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and policy makers are trying to make them reality.
The promise of algae biofuels food and agriculture. Algal biology metabolic regulation of microalgae for biofuels. There are over 100,000 genetically diverse strains of algae. Technoeconomic challenges and environmental impacts of algaetofuels strategies need to be properly assessed comprehensive impacts assessment lack. The algae biofuels industry is comprised of many pathways to produce fuels from algae and is.
Algal biofuels represent a potential source of renewable energy. Current status and potential for algal biofuels production executive summary this iea bioenergy report. Algae fuel, algal biofuel, or algal oil is an alternative to liquid fossil fuels that uses algae as its source of energyrich oils. Algal biofuels offer potential advantages over biofuels made from land plants, including algaes ability to grow on noncroplands in cultivation ponds of freshwater, salt water or wastewater. Production of methane gas from algae was proposed in the early 1950s, and received a big impetus during the energy crisis of the 1970s, when projects were initiated to produce gaseous fuels hydrogen and methane. Investigators are working to understand how trace met. Sustainable development of algal biofuels in the united states. The national algal biofuels technology roadmap workshop, held december 910, 2008, was convened by doeeeres biomass program. But unlike fossil fuels, algal biofuels only release the co2 that has been recently removed from.
Algal biofuels nrel is developing technologies and helping prepare a new generation workforce to enable the commercialization of algal biofuels. The eu is also considering changing european renewable energy targets to take into account land use consequences, which could lead to additional support or subtargets for algal biofuels in transport. Algae, as the third generation feedstock, are suitable for biodiesel and bioethanol production due to their. However, it provides a framework for assessing sustain ability as the doe continues to invest in algal biofuel research and development. A technology roadmap resulting from the national algal biofuels workshop. We hope that you will join us to commemorate this anniversary and help us provide an exciting atmosphere to discuss the latest research and technologies in algal based systems. Prepublication copy v committee on the sustainable development of algal biofuels jennie c. A variety of highvalue products in addition to biofuels can be harvested from algal biomass, and these may be key to developing algal biotechnology and realizing the commercial potential of these. Algal biofuels natural and artificial photosynthesis. He is also a partner of the consulting firm biologic energy partners, llc. Read microalgae based biofuels and bioproducts online, read in mobile or kindle. Download microalgae based biofuels and bioproducts ebook free in pdf and epub format. The current fossil fuel reserves are not sufficient to meet the increasing demand and very soon will become exhausted. In the wake of the 2007 energy independence and security act, the us department of energy doe started a microalgae program as part of the bioenergy technologies office, publishing the first national algal biofuels.
Thus, the relationship between water quality and algal productivity is an active area of study. It begins with an introduction to the topic, and follows with the basic scientific aspects of algal cultivation and its use for biofuels production, such as photo bioreactor engineering for microalgae production, open culture systems for biomass production and the economics of biomass. Algal fuel is highly favorable and feasible related to other biofuels, as they do not have to produce structural compounds and they can convert higher fractions of biomass to oil compared to other cultivated crops. Other criteria include resistance to contamination, tolerance of high oxygen levels and temperature extremes, and adaptation to the local water chemistry and other local conditions experienced by the. Current status and potential for algal biofuels production. Read sustainable development of algal biofuels in the. Fossil fuel based energy is our primary source of energy and it will remain to be in the near future. Optimum yield of algal biofuels requires a number of physical and chemical factors. The current technologies of algal biofuels production and wastewater treatment e. I thank the committee members and nrc staff for the very stimulating and thoughtprovoking dialogue and for their many contributions to the writing of this report.
Download advanced biofuels and bioproducts ebook free in pdf and epub format. Algal research is an international phycology journal covering all areas of emerging technologies in algae biology, biomass production, cultivation, harvesting, extraction, bioproducts, biorefinery, engineering, and econometrics. In 2020, we celebrate the 10th international conference on algal biomass, biofuels and bioproducts algalbbb 2020, which will take place in pittsburgh, pa, usa. We are focused on understanding the current cost for algal biofuels production and using that information to identify and develop cost reduction strategies. The twoday event brought together more than 200 scientists, engineers, executive summary a culture of the microalgae botryococcus. The economic, national security, and environmental costs.
Pdf microalgae based biofuels and bioproducts download. Algal biomass fractionation to lipid and carbohydratederived fuel products r. A perspective on renewable bioenergy from photosynthetic. If algal biofuels are to completely replace petroleum in the usa, an additional 53 million tons of phosphate must be acquired annually. Some researchers say algae could be 10 or even 100 times more productive. For this study, firstly, a factorial experimental design was used to analyze the effects of the process. The reports authoring committee assessed resource needs and environmental concerns.
Risk, biofuels and longterm sustainability adrian unc, miller alonso camargovalero, stephen r. He is is the current chair of the international conference for algal biomass, biofuels and bioproducts algalbbb, which he has helped organize since its inception in 2010. The thirdgeneration biofuels exploit marine biomass such as seaweeds and algae for the generation of biofuels such as biogas, ethanol and butanol. Department of energy doe bioenergy technologies offices vision of a thriving and sustainable bioeconomy fueled by innovative technologies. The key to algaes potential as a renewable fuel source involves the increase of algal biomass productivity per acre. This book provides indepth information on basic and applied aspects of biofuels production from algae. Pdf the use of algae for biofuel production is expected to play an. Read sustainable development of algal biofuels in the united.
This is a significant challenge, given that the total amount of phosphate in the usa is estimated to be approximately 2. This roadmap is intended to summarize the state of technology for algaebased fuels and. The algal strains to be cultivated are selected based on many criteria, of which oil content, productivity, and harvestability would be primary. Algal research is an international journal that will cover all areas of emerging technologies in algal biology, biomass production, cultivation, harvesting, extraction, bioproducts, and econometrics. The idea of using algae as a source of food, feed and energy goes back more than half a century. A simplistic approach of algal biofuels production from. As already highlighted, clear economic and sustainability challenges still exist to develop largescale costcompetitive algal biomassderived biofuels. Studies display that some species of algae have the ability to produce up to 60% of their dry weight in the form of oil.
Sustainable production of biofuels and aquaculture feed. Algal biofuel is a generic term used for any form of biofuel that could be produced from algae as a feedstock. Pdf advanced biofuels and bioproducts download ebook for. This report, produced at the request of the department of energy, identifies potential sustainability concerns associated with producing algal biofuels in the united states. But, for the time being, algal biotechnologists will continue to burn the midnight oil in the hope of making a viable biofuel for the future. What followed was a bubble of public and private sector investment. However, the sustainable production became the major constraint facing commercial development of algal biofuels. To produce 1 liter of algae biofuel, manufacturers must use 3. Recent developments in synthetic biology and metabolic. In this work, we studied a novel algae cultivation strategy, mixotrophic microalgae biofilm, to improve the productivity and costefficiency of algal biofuel production. The state of technology for producing algal biofuels continues to mature with ongoing investment by doe and the private sector, but additional research, development. The effects from the use of this finite resource on the fate of our planet are only now being understood and recognised in the. With algal biofuels research and development evolving rapidly, we are certain that. Various algal species grow in wastewater, and many wastewater treatment facilities find algae problematic to their processes.
The global economy requires fossil hydrocarbons to function, from producing plastics and fertilizers to providing the energy required for lighting, heating and transportation. The demand of key resources for algal growth, such as energy, nutrients, water and co 2, as well as the costs of algal biofuels production need to be reduced to achieve viable biofuels pathways. May 05, 2014 algal fuel is highly favorable and feasible related to other biofuels, as they do not have to produce structural compounds and they can convert higher fractions of biomass to oil compared to other cultivated crops. Currently he is the editor inchief of the journal of applied phycology, and convenor of the beam. Biofuel expert explains how future innovations could help. Olivares editor inchief of the scientific journal algal research. Aug 21, 2018 in this work, we studied a novel algae cultivation strategy, mixotrophic microalgae biofilm, to improve the productivity and costefficiency of algal biofuel production. International conference on algal biomass biofuels and. October 2009 cultivating clean energy the promise of algae biofuels author catie ryan, terrapin bright green, llc lead editor alice hartley, terrapin bright green, llc project managers bill browning, terrapin bright green, llc chris garvin, terrapin bright green, llc nathanael greene, natural resources defense council cai steger, natural resources defense council. When made from seaweed macroalgae it can be known as seaweed fuel or seaweed oil several companies and government agencies are funding efforts to reduce capital. With our increasing population and expanding economy, there will. Dec 11, 2012 currently he is the editor inchief of the journal of applied phycology, and convenor of the beam biotechnological and environmental applications of microalgae research network and the beamrirdc algae biofuels group, and president elect of the international phycological society. Algae is defined to include cyanobacteria, microalgae, macroalgae, and protists and symbionts of interest in. Global energy use has reached unprecedented levels and increasing human population, technological integration, and improving lifestyle will further fuel this demand.
This book covers algaebased biofuel options and discusses the design and economic viability of algal bioenergy coproduction concepts. This is an advantage for researchers, who can harness algal strains numerous unique properties to develop promising algal biofuels and bioproducts. Duke, ecological society of america, washington, dc rebecca a. This report does not address economic analyses or comparative lifecycle analyses. Journal of algal biomass utilization, phyco spectrum, 52a, ak block, 7th main road, anna nagar, chennai 600040, india. Algal biomass pretreatment for im proved biofuel production.
Also, algae fuels are an alternative to commonly known biofuel sources, such as corn and sugarcane. Process design and economics for the conversion of algal. Pdf algae biofuels may provide a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Cuello, the university of arizona, tuscon clifford s. Biofuels, especially algae based, have gained significant publicity recently. Huntercevera chair, committee on sustainable development of algal biofuels.
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