IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v154y2015icp1103-1111.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy balance of algal biomass production in a 1-ha “Green Wall Panel” plant: How to produce algal biomass in a closed reactor achieving a high Net Energy Ratio

Author

Listed:
  • Tredici, M.R.
  • Bassi, N.
  • Prussi, M.
  • Biondi, N.
  • Rodolfi, L.
  • Chini Zittelli, G.
  • Sampietro, G.

Abstract

The annual productivity of Tetraselmis suecica in a 1-ha Green Wall Panel-II (GWP-II) plant in Tuscany (Italy) is 36t (dry weight)ha−1year−1, which corresponds to an energy output of 799GJha−1year−1. The energy inputs necessary to attain that productivity amount to 1362GJha−1year−1, mainly given by the embodied energy of the reactor (about 30%), mixing (about 40%), fertilizers (11%) and harvesting (10%). The Net Energy Ratio (NER) of T. suecica production is thus 0.6. In a more suitable location (North Africa) productivity nearly doubles, reaching 66tha−1year−1, but the NER increases only by 40% and the gain (difference between output and inputs) remains negative. In a GWP-II integrated with photovoltaics (PV), the NER becomes 1.7 and the gain surpasses 600GJha−1year−1. Marine microalgae cultivation in a GWP plant, in a suitable location, can attain high biomass productivities and protein yields 30times higher than those achievable with traditional crops (soya). When the GWP reactor is integrated with PV, the process attains a positive energy balance, which substantially enhances its sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Tredici, M.R. & Bassi, N. & Prussi, M. & Biondi, N. & Rodolfi, L. & Chini Zittelli, G. & Sampietro, G., 2015. "Energy balance of algal biomass production in a 1-ha “Green Wall Panel” plant: How to produce algal biomass in a closed reactor achieving a high Net Energy Ratio," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1103-1111.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:154:y:2015:i:c:p:1103-1111
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.086
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261915001221
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.01.086?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ajay K. Gupta & Charles A.S. Hall, 2011. "A Review of the Past and Current State of EROI Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(10), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Singh, Anoop & Olsen, Stig Irving, 2011. "A critical review of biochemical conversion, sustainability and life cycle assessment of algal biofuels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3548-3555.
    3. Nawaz, I. & Tiwari, G.N., 2006. "Embodied energy analysis of photovoltaic (PV) system based on macro- and micro-level," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(17), pages 3144-3152, November.
    4. Jonker, J.G.G. & Faaij, A.P.C., 2013. "Techno-economic assessment of micro-algae as feedstock for renewable bio-energy production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 461-475.
    5. David Pimentel, 2009. "Energy Inputs in Food Crop Production in Developing and Developed Nations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-24, January.
    6. Subhadra, Bobban G., 2010. "Sustainability of algal biofuel production using integrated renewable energy park (IREP) and algal biorefinery approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 5892-5901, October.
    7. Peng, Jinqing & Lu, Lin & Yang, Hongxing, 2013. "Review on life cycle assessment of energy payback and greenhouse gas emission of solar photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 255-274.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhai, Pei & Isaacs, Jacqueline A. & Eckelman, Matthew J., 2016. "Net energy benefits of carbon nanotube applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 624-634.
    2. Minghao Chen & Yixuan Chen & Qingtao Zhang, 2021. "A Review of Energy Consumption in the Acquisition of Bio-Feedstock for Microalgae Biofuel Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Prussi, M. & Weindorf, W. & Buffi, M. & Sánchez López, J. & Scarlat, N., 2021. "Are algae ready to take off? GHG emission savings of algae-to-kerosene production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    4. Baldev, Edachery & Mubarakali, Davoodbasha & Saravanakumar, Kandasamy & Arutselvan, Chithirai & Alharbi, Naiyf S. & Alharbi, Sulaiman Ali & Sivasubramanian, Velusamy & Thajuddin, Nooruddin, 2018. "Unveiling algal cultivation using raceway ponds for biodiesel production and its quality assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 486-498.
    5. Donghan Kang & Keug Tae Kim & Tae-Young Heo & Gyutae Kwon & Chaeseung Lim & Jungsu Park, 2019. "Inhibition of Photosynthetic Activity in Wastewater-Borne Microalgal–Bacterial Consortia under Various Light Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Barbera, Elena & Sforza, Eleonora & Vecchiato, Luca & Bertucco, Alberto, 2017. "Energy and economic analysis of microalgae cultivation in a photovoltaic-assisted greenhouse: Scenedesmus obliquus as a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 116-124.
    7. Nwoba, Emeka G. & Parlevliet, David A. & Laird, Damian W. & Alameh, Kamal & Louveau, Julien & Pruvost, Jeremy & Moheimani, Navid R., 2020. "Energy efficiency analysis of outdoor standalone photovoltaic-powered photobioreactors coproducing lipid-rich algal biomass and electricity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    8. Marcin Dębowski & Marcin Zieliński & Joanna Kazimierowicz & Natalia Kujawska & Szymon Talbierz, 2020. "Microalgae Cultivation Technologies as an Opportunity for Bioenergetic System Development—Advantages and Limitations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-37, November.
    9. Nicholas S. Kruyer & Matthew J. Realff & Wenting Sun & Caroline L. Genzale & Pamela Peralta-Yahya, 2021. "Designing the bioproduction of Martian rocket propellant via a biotechnology-enabled in situ resource utilization strategy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    10. Ana L. Gonçalves & Maria C. M. Alvim-Ferraz & Fernando G. Martins & Manuel Simões & José C. M. Pires, 2016. "Integration of Microalgae-Based Bioenergy Production into a Petrochemical Complex: Techno-Economic Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, March.
    11. Abreu, Ana P. & Morais, Rui C. & Teixeira, José A. & Nunes, João, 2022. "A comparison between microalgal autotrophic growth and metabolite accumulation with heterotrophic, mixotrophic and photoheterotrophic cultivation modes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    12. Raslavičius, Laurencas & Felneris, Mantas & Pukalskas, Saugirdas & Rimkus, Alfredas & Melaika, Mindaugas, 2019. "Evaluation of P. moriformis oil and its blends with diesel fuel as promising contributors to transportation energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    13. Nilay Kumar Sarker & Prasad Kaparaju, 2023. "A Critical Review on the Status and Progress of Microalgae Cultivation in Outdoor Photobioreactors Conducted over 35 Years (1986–2021)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-32, March.
    14. Naraharisetti, Pavan Kumar & Das, Probir & Sharratt, Paul N., 2017. "Critical factors in energy generation from microalgae," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 138-152.
    15. Kong, Minjin & Hong, Taehoon & Ji, Changyoon & Kang, Hyuna & Lee, Minhyun, 2020. "Development of building driven-energy payback time for energy transition of building with renewable energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kasivisvanathan, Harresh & Barilea, Ivan Dale U. & Ng, Denny K.S. & Tan, Raymond R., 2013. "Optimal operational adjustment in multi-functional energy systems in response to process inoperability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 492-500.
    2. Prajapati, Sanjeev Kumar & Malik, Anushree & Vijay, Virendra Kumar, 2014. "Comparative evaluation of biomass production and bioenergy generation potential of Chlorella spp. through anaerobic digestion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 790-797.
    3. Koppelaar, R.H.E.M., 2017. "Solar-PV energy payback and net energy: Meta-assessment of study quality, reproducibility, and results harmonization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1241-1255.
    4. Yadav, Deepak & Banerjee, Rangan, 2018. "A comparative life cycle energy and carbon emission analysis of the solar carbothermal and hydrometallurgy routes for zinc production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 577-602.
    5. Jambo, Siti Azmah & Abdulla, Rahmath & Mohd Azhar, Siti Hajar & Marbawi, Hartinie & Gansau, Jualang Azlan & Ravindra, Pogaku, 2016. "A review on third generation bioethanol feedstock," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 756-769.
    6. Wieczorek, Nils & Kucuker, Mehmet Ali & Kuchta, Kerstin, 2014. "Fermentative hydrogen and methane production from microalgal biomass (Chlorella vulgaris) in a two-stage combined process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 108-117.
    7. Walmsley, Timothy G. & Walmsley, Michael R.W. & Varbanov, Petar S. & Klemeš, Jiří J., 2018. "Energy Ratio analysis and accounting for renewable and non-renewable electricity generation: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 328-345.
    8. Parisi, Maria Laura & Maranghi, Simone & Basosi, Riccardo, 2014. "The evolution of the dye sensitized solar cells from Grätzel prototype to up-scaled solar applications: A life cycle assessment approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 124-138.
    9. Thorin, Eva & Olsson, Jesper & Schwede, Sebastian & Nehrenheim, Emma, 2018. "Co-digestion of sewage sludge and microalgae – Biogas production investigations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 64-72.
    10. Wong, J.H. & Royapoor, M. & Chan, C.W., 2016. "Review of life cycle analyses and embodied energy requirements of single-crystalline and multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 608-618.
    11. Minghao Chen & Yixuan Chen & Qingtao Zhang, 2021. "A Review of Energy Consumption in the Acquisition of Bio-Feedstock for Microalgae Biofuel Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    12. Du, Xinrui & Tao, Yi & Li, Huan & Liu, Yueling & Feng, Kai, 2019. "Synergistic methane production from the anaerobic co-digestion of Spirulina platensis with food waste and sewage sludge at high solid concentrations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 55-61.
    13. Abolhosseini, Shahrouz & Heshmati, Almas & Altmann, Jörn, 2014. "A Review of Renewable Energy Supply and Energy Efficiency Technologies," IZA Discussion Papers 8145, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    14. Zhou, Yingdong & Chen, Yaguang & Li, Mingyu & Hu, Changwei, 2020. "Production of high-quality biofuel via ethanol liquefaction of pretreated natural microalgae," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 293-301.
    15. Carnevale, E. & Lombardi, L. & Zanchi, L., 2014. "Life Cycle Assessment of solar energy systems: Comparison of photovoltaic and water thermal heater at domestic scale," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 434-446.
    16. Shah, Syed Mahboob & Liu, Gengyuan & Yang, Qing & Casazza, Marco & Agostinho, Feni & Giannetti, Biagio F., 2021. "Sustainability assessment of agriculture production systems in Pakistan: A provincial-scale energy-based evaluation," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 455(C).
    17. Kaldellis, J.K. & Zafirakis, D. & Kondili, E., 2009. "Optimum autonomous stand-alone photovoltaic system design on the basis of energy pay-back analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1187-1198.
    18. Dębowski, Marcin & Zieliński, Marcin & Grala, Anna & Dudek, Magda, 2013. "Algae biomass as an alternative substrate in biogas production technologies—Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 596-604.
    19. María José Ibarrola-Rivas & Thomas Kastner & Sanderine Nonhebel, 2016. "How Much Time Does a Farmer Spend to Produce My food? An International Comparison of the Impact of Diets and Mechanization," Resources, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-13, December.
    20. Ming Tang & Huchang Liao & Zhengjun Wan & Enrique Herrera-Viedma & Marc A. Rosen, 2018. "Ten Years of Sustainability (2009 to 2018): A Bibliometric Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:154:y:2015:i:c:p:1103-1111. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.