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Energy profitability analysis for microalgal biocrude production

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  • Ramos Tercero, Elia Armandina
  • Sforza, Eleonora
  • Bertucco, Alberto

Abstract

This work presents the results of a thorough EROEI (Energy Return on Energy Investment) analysis for biocrude production from microalgae processes. We have investigated different alternatives to maximize the energy recoveries of each process considered, which has been modeled and simulated by Aspen Plus™. The estimates for feeds and recirculation of microalgae and nutrients, working conditions, systemization and equipment requirements were obtained using both literature and own experimental data. The Pinch Technology Analysis was applied to optimize the process operating conditions. It was found that the process which uses the combustion of biomass after biocrude extraction is the most favorable one in energy terms. In particular, 2 cases of this type were addressed and compared to a Base case where all energy requirements (heat and electrical) are provided from external sources: Case 1, electricity is supplied externally whereas the biomass and part of the biocrude produced are burned to meet the requirements of thermal energy, and Case 2, where the energy recovered from both biomass and part of biocrude are used to fulfill all heat and electricity duties. These cases were analyzed also when the nitrogen needed for microalgae growth is obtained from wastewaters. Favorable EROEI figures could be calculated.

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  • Ramos Tercero, Elia Armandina & Sforza, Eleonora & Bertucco, Alberto, 2013. "Energy profitability analysis for microalgal biocrude production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 373-379.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:60:y:2013:i:c:p:373-379
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.08.003
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    3. Giwa, Adewale & Adeyemi, Idowu & Dindi, Abdallah & Lopez, Celia García-Baños & Lopresto, Catia Giovanna & Curcio, Stefano & Chakraborty, Sudip, 2018. "Techno-economic assessment of the sustainability of an integrated biorefinery from microalgae and Jatropha: A review and case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 239-257.
    4. Jose M. Vindel & Estrella Trincado & Antonio Sánchez-Bayón, 2021. "European Union Green Deal and the Opportunity Cost of Wastewater Treatment Projects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Raslavičius, Laurencas & Semenov, Vladimir G. & Chernova, Nadezhda I. & Keršys, Artūras & Kopeyka, Aleksandr K., 2014. "Producing transportation fuels from algae: In search of synergy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 133-142.
    6. Aziz, Muhammad & Oda, Takuya & Kashiwagi, Takao, 2014. "Integration of energy-efficient drying in microalgae utilization based on enhanced process integration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 307-316.
    7. 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.
    8. Faried, M. & Samer, M. & Abdelsalam, E. & Yousef, R.S. & Attia, Y.A. & Ali, A.S., 2017. "Biodiesel production from microalgae: Processes, technologies and recent advancements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 893-913.
    9. Maghzian, Ali & Aslani, Alireza & Zahedi, Rahim & Yaghoubi, Milad, 2023. "How to effectively produce value-added products from microalgae?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 262-276.

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