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Sustainable biofuels from algae

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  • Michael Borowitzka
  • Navid Moheimani

Abstract

There is currently great interest in microalgae as sources of renewable energy and biofuels. Many algae species have a high lipid content and can be grown on non-arable land using alternate water sources such as seawater. This paper discusses in detail the issue of sustainability of commercial-scale microalgae production of biofuels with particular focus on land, water, nutrients (N and P) and CO 2 requirements and highlights some of the key issues in the very large scale culture of microalgae which is required for biofuels. The use of genetically modified algae is also considered. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Borowitzka & Navid Moheimani, 2013. "Sustainable biofuels from algae," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 13-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:18:y:2013:i:1:p:13-25
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-010-9271-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Evan Stephens & Ian Ross & Jan H. Mussgnug & Liam Wagner & Michael A. Borowitzka & Clemens Posten & Olaf Kruse & Ben Hankamer, 2010. "Future prospects of microalgal biofuel production systems," Energy Economics and Management Group Working Papers 7-2010, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    2. Kadam, K.L, 2002. "Environmental implications of power generation via coal-microalgae cofiring," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 27(10), pages 905-922.
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    3. Taelman, Sue Ellen & De Meester, Steven & Van Dijk, Wim & da Silva, Vamilson & Dewulf, Jo, 2015. "Environmental sustainability analysis of a protein-rich livestock feed ingredient in The Netherlands: Microalgae production versus soybean import," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 61-72.
    4. Boruff, Bryan J. & Moheimani, Navid R. & Borowitzka, Michael A., 2015. "Identifying locations for large-scale microalgae cultivation in Western Australia: A GIS approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 379-391.
    5. Guo, Yang & Yeh, Thomas & Song, Wenhan & Xu, Donghai & Wang, Shuzhong, 2015. "A review of bio-oil production from hydrothermal liquefaction of algae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 776-790.
    6. Mohan, Natarajan & Rao, Polur Hanumantha & Boopathy, Annakkili Baskara & Rengasamy, Ramasamy & Chinnasamy, Senthil, 2021. "A sustainable process train for a marine microalga-mediated biomass production and CO2 capture: A pilot-scale cultivation of Nannochloropsis salina in open raceway ponds and harvesting through electro," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 263-272.
    7. Chaudry, Sofia & Bahri, Parisa A. & Moheimani, Navid R., 2015. "Pathways of processing of wet microalgae for liquid fuel production: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1240-1250.
    8. Zabed, Hossain M. & Akter, Suely & Yun, Junhua & Zhang, Guoyan & Awad, Faisal N. & Qi, Xianghui & Sahu, J.N., 2019. "Recent advances in biological pretreatment of microalgae and lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 105-128.
    9. Sedlar, D. Karasalihović & Vulin, D. & Krajačić, G. & Jukić, L., 2019. "Offshore gas production infrastructure reutilisation for blue energy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 159-174.
    10. Chen, Wei & Ma, Lin & Zhou, Peng-peng & Zhu, Yuan-min & Wang, Xiao-peng & Luo, Xin-an & Bao, Zhen-dong & Yu, Long-jiang, 2015. "A novel feedstock for biodiesel production: The application of palmitic acid from Schizochytrium," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 128-138.
    11. Su, Yujie & Song, Kaihui & Zhang, Peidong & Su, Yuqing & Cheng, Jing & Chen, Xiao, 2017. "Progress of microalgae biofuel’s commercialization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 402-411.
    12. Esveidi Montserrat Valdovinos-García & Juan Barajas-Fernández & María de los Ángeles Olán-Acosta & Moisés Abraham Petriz-Prieto & Adriana Guzmán-López & Micael Gerardo Bravo-Sánchez, 2020. "Techno-Economic Study of CO 2 Capture of a Thermoelectric Plant Using Microalgae ( Chlorella vulgaris ) for Production of Feedstock for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Canter, Christina E. & Blowers, Paul & Handler, Robert M. & Shonnard, David R., 2015. "Implications of widespread algal biofuels production on macronutrient fertilizer supplies: Nutrient demand and evaluation of potential alternate nutrient sources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 71-80.
    14. Soratana, Kullapa & Harden, Cheyenne L. & Zaimes, George G. & Rasutis, Daina & Antaya, Claire L. & Khanna, Vikas & Landis, Amy E., 2014. "The role of sustainability and life cycle thinking in U.S. biofuels policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 316-326.
    15. Jackson, Brent A. & Bahri, Parisa A. & Moheimani, Navid R., 2017. "Repetitive non-destructive milking of hydrocarbons from Botryococcus braunii," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1229-1240.
    16. Byung Sun Yu & Young Joon Sung & Min Eui Hong & Sang Jun Sim, 2021. "Improvement of Photoautotrophic Algal Biomass Production after Interrupted CO 2 Supply by Urea and KH 2 PO 4 Injection," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, February.
    17. Giostri, A. & Binotti, M. & Macchi, E., 2016. "Microalgae cofiring in coal power plants: Innovative system layout and energy analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 449-464.
    18. Maity, Sunil K., 2015. "Opportunities, recent trends and challenges of integrated biorefinery: Part I," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1427-1445.
    19. Islam, Muhammad Aminul & Heimann, Kirsten & Brown, Richard J., 2017. "Microalgae biodiesel: Current status and future needs for engine performance and emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1160-1170.
    20. Inês Guerra & Hugo Pereira & Margarida Costa & Joana T. Silva & Tamára Santos & João Varela & Marília Mateus & Joana Silva, 2021. "Operation Regimes: A Comparison Based on Nannochloropsis oceanica Biomass and Lipid Productivity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, March.
    21. Afshin Ghorbani & Mohammad Reza Rahimpour & Younes Ghasemi & Sona Raeissi, 2018. "The Biodiesel of Microalgae as a Solution for Diesel Demand in Iran," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, April.
    22. XU, Yaoyang & Boeing, Wiebke J., 2014. "Modeling maximum lipid productivity of microalgae: Review and next step," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 29-39.
    23. Maity, Sunil K., 2015. "Opportunities, recent trends and challenges of integrated biorefinery: Part II," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1446-1466.
    24. Darvehei, Pooya & Bahri, Parisa A. & Moheimani, Navid R., 2018. "Model development for the growth of microalgae: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 233-258.
    25. Ishika, Tasneema & Moheimani, Navid R. & Bahri, Parisa A., 2017. "Sustainable saline microalgae co-cultivation for biofuel production: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 356-368.

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