Cited by 55Algal biology and biofuel productionMicrobial Metabolic Engineering and BioproductionBioenergy crop production and management

Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations

Open access
Dębowski, Marcin, Świca, Izabela, Kazimierowicz, Joanna, Zieliński, Marcin·2022·Energies

Abstract

Microalgal biomass can be used to derive many different types of biofuels. In order to widely commercialize this technology, its limitations and weaknesses must be eliminated. Many technical and economic issues also need to be clarified and unknowns answered. Microalgae-based technologies have been shown to be versatile, efficient and suitable for practical and commercial use. However, the current technological readiness level (TRL) of most microalgae-based bioenergy production systems precludes their quick and widespread implementation. Their development is limited by a combination of factors that must be precisely identified, after which their negative impact on scale-up prospects can be eliminated or minimized. The present study identifies the main barriers to the development of industrial microalgae-production and microalgae-to-biofuel systems. In addition, it proposes measures and efforts necessary to achieve a higher TRL, which will provide investors with sought-after performance and cost-efficiency data for the given project. The main barriers to the development of microalgae cultivation and processing systems have been identified to include: the complex nature of the cultivation process with multiple variables involved; lack of sufficient data from pilot-scale and near-full-scale plants, which often precludes reliable life cycle assessment (LCA); and insufficient legal assistance, advisory assistance, subsidies and funding for innovative projects. Potential ways of improving performance and competitiveness of microalgae-based systems include: process optimization techniques, genetic engineering, yield improvement through advanced process control and monitoring, use of waste as feedstock and dedicated support programs. The presented summary of the current stage of microalgal biofuel production technology development indicates the directions for further research and implementation work, which are necessary for the final verification of the application potential of these solutions.

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  • Most scientific publications focus on the use of microalgae biomass for the production of biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, biohydrogen, and aviation fuels.

    “Most scientific publications focus on the use of microalgae biomass for the production of biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, biohydrogen, and aviation fuels [8-12].”

    From Multi-Sensing Monitoring of the Microalgae Biomass Cultivation Systems for Biofuels and Added Value Products Synthesis—Challenges and Opportunities (2025) · cites this paper as [9]

    The Introduction and background (p. 1) says research has demonstrated microalgae-based production of biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane and biohydrogen, and suggests bioenergy may be the biomass's greatest contribution. It does not establish that most scientific publications focus on these fuels or mention aviation fuels. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. [7]7. Kosowska-Golachowska, M.; Luckos, A. Direct Combustion of Microalgae Biomass to Generate Bioelectricity. In 3rd Generation Biofuels: Disruptive Technologies to Enable Commercial Production ; Woodhead Publishing: Sawston, UK, 2022; pp. 665-698. [CrossRef]
  2. [75]75. Rashid, T.U.; Salem, K.S.; Islam, M.M.; Zaman, A.; Khan, M.N.; Luna, I.Z.; Haque, P.; Rahman, M.M. Recent developments of microbial fuel cell as sustainable bio-energy sources. In Microbial Catalysts ; Nova Science Publishers, Inc.: Hauppauge, NY, USA, 2019; Volume 2, pp. 57-115.
  3. [80]80. Nwoba, E.G.; Chuka-Ogwude, D.; Vadiveloo, A.; Ogbonna, J.C. Process Control Strategies Applied to Microalgae-Based Biofuel Production. In 3rd Generation Biofuels: Disruptive Technologies to Enable Commercial Production ; Woodhead Publishing: Sawston, UK, 2022; pp. 105-134. [CrossRef]
  4. [135]135. Vigani, M. Bioeconomy of Microalgae-Based Fuels. In 3rd Generation Biofuels: Disruptive Technologies to Enable Commercial Production ; Woodhead Publishing: Sawston, UK, 2022. [CrossRef]

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Authors
Dębowski, M., Świca, I., Kazimierowicz, J., & Zieliński, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (PL)
  • Bialystok University of Technology (PL)
Corresponding author
Dębowski, Marcin
Venue
Energies
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2022-12-21
Volume
16
Issue
1
Pages
81
ISSN
1996-1073 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4313574132
Cited by
55
References
134
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 5
FWCI
1.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Energies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Minister of Education and Science (010/RID/2018/19, WZ/WB-IIŚ/3/2022)
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, microalgae cultivation, technological readiness level, scale-up barriers, life cycle assessment, process optimization, genetic engineering, waste feedstocks, process control and monitoring, economic competitiveness

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