Theoretical Calculations on the Feasibility of Microalgal Biofuels: Utilization of Marine Resources Could Help Realizing the Potential of Microalgae
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Microalgae have long been considered as one of most promising feedstocks with better characteristics for biofuels production over conventional energy crops. There have been a wide range of estimations on the feasibility of microalgal biofuels based on various productivity assumptions and data from different scales. The theoretical maximum algal biofuel productivity, however, can be calculated by the amount of solar irradiance and photosynthetic efficiency (PE), assuming other conditions are within the optimal range. Using the actual surface solar irradiance data around the world and PE of algal culture systems, maximum algal biomass and biofuel productivities were calculated, and feasibility of algal biofuel were assessed with the estimation. The results revealed that biofuel production would not easily meet the economic break‐even point and may not be sustainable at a large‐scale with the current algal biotechnology. Substantial reductions in the production cost, improvements in lipid productivity, recycling of resources, and utilization of non‐conventional resources will be necessary for feasible mass production of algal biofuel. Among the emerging technologies, cultivation of microalgae in the ocean shows great potentials to meet the resource requirements and economic feasibility in algal biofuel production by utilizing various marine resources.
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Microalgae can be grown to several folds irrespective to seasonal conditions.
“In several aspects, microalgae feedstock is competent and preferable to produce biofuels for examples microalgae don not require cultivable land and fresh water for cultivation, they are not edible therefore no effect on human and animal’s food chain, can be grown to serval folds irrespective to seasonal conditions, mitigation of atmospheric CO2 and treatment of waste water [18, 19].”
Microalgae can mitigate atmospheric CO2 and treat waste water.
“In several aspects, microalgae feedstock is competent and preferable to produce biofuels for examples microalgae don not require cultivable land and fresh water for cultivation, they are not edible therefore no effect on human and animal’s food chain, can be grown to serval folds irrespective to seasonal conditions, mitigation of atmospheric CO2 and treatment of waste water [18, 19].”
Microalgae feedstock is competent and preferable to produce biofuels because microalgae do not require cultivable land and fresh water for cultivation.
“In several aspects, microalgae feedstock is competent and preferable to produce biofuels for examples microalgae don not require cultivable land and fresh water for cultivation, they are not edible therefore no effect on human and animal’s food chain, can be grown to serval folds irrespective to seasonal conditions, mitigation of atmospheric CO2 and treatment of waste water [18, 19].”
Microalgae are not edible therefore no effect on human and animal's food chain.
“In several aspects, microalgae feedstock is competent and preferable to produce biofuels for examples microalgae don not require cultivable land and fresh water for cultivation, they are not edible therefore no effect on human and animal’s food chain, can be grown to serval folds irrespective to seasonal conditions, mitigation of atmospheric CO2 and treatment of waste water [18, 19].”
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References 64 · Cited by 63
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [31]McConnell, B., Farag, I. H., 11AIChE ‐ 2011 AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings 2011.
- Authors
- Park, H., & Lee, C.
- Affiliations
- Inha University (KR)
- Corresponding author
- Lee, Choul‐Gyun
- Venue
- Biotechnology Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-11
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1461-1470
- ISSN
- 1860-6768 (ISSN-L)
- 1860-7314
- PMC
- PMC5132096
- OpenAlex
- W2546296959
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1
- FWCI
- 1.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Biotechnology Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (PJT200255)
- National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF‐2013H1A2A1032623)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Keywords
- microalgal biofuels, algal biomass productivity, photosynthetic efficiency, solar irradiance, economic feasibility, break-even point, lipid productivity, marine resources, production cost reduction, resource recycling
- MeSH terms
- Biotechnology, Lipids, Oceans and Seas, Photosynthesis, Solar Energy, Biomass, Biofuels, Microalgae
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