Biofuel Production in Ireland-An Approach to 2020 Targets with a Focus on Algal Biomass
Open accessAbstract
Under the Biofuels Obligation Scheme in Ireland, the biofuels penetration rate target for 2013 was set at 6% by volume from a previous 4% from 2010. In 2012 the fuel blend reached 3%, with approximately 70 million L of biodiesel and 56 million L of ethanol blended with diesel and gasoline, respectively. Up to and including April 2013, the current blend rate in Ireland for biodiesel was 2.3% and for bioethanol was 3.7% which equates to approximately 37.5 million L of biofuel for the first four months of 2013. The target of 10% by 2020 remains, which equates to approximately 420 million L yr−1. Achieving the biofuels target would require 345 ktoe by 2020 (14,400 TJ). Utilizing the indigenous biofuels in Ireland such as tallow, used cooking oil and oil seed rape leaves a shortfall of approximately 12,000 TJ or 350 million L (achieving only 17% of the 10% target) that must be either be imported or met by other renewables. Other solutions seem to suggest that microalgae (for biodiesel) and macroalgae (for bioethanol) could meet this shortfall for indigenous Irish production. This paper aims to review the characteristics of algae for biofuel production based on oil yields, cultivation, harvesting, processing and finally in terms of the European Union (EU) biofuels sustainability criteria, where, up to 2017, a 35% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction is required compared to fossil fuels. From 2017 onwards, a 50% GHG reduction is required for existing installations and from 2018, a 60% reduction for new installations is required.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
High sulphur concentration in seaweed can lead to production of H2S that lowers BMP and elevates SO2 emissions on biogas combustion.
“The high sulphur concentration in seaweed can also lead to the production of H2S that lowers BMP and elevates SO2 emissions on biogas combustion [85].”
From Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production (2021) · cites this paper as [85]
Section 4.2.2 (Anaerobic Digestion; page unavailable) says that high sulphate concentration can cause H2S formation, particularly in green macroalgae. It does not say that H2S lowers biochemical methane potential (BMP) or increases SO2 emissions when biogas is burned. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review
Mata, T. M., Martins, A. A., & Caetano, N. S. (2010) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2009.07.020 · Cited by 5,685 · see citing works
Second Generation Biofuels: High-Efficiency Microalgae for Biodiesel Production
Schenk, P. M., Thomas‐Hall, S. R., Stephens, E., Marx, U. C., Mussgnug, J. H., Posten, C. H., Kruse, O., & Hankamer, B. D. (2008) · BioEnergy Research · doi:10.1007/s12155-008-9008-8 · Cited by 2,335 · see citing works
Hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass: A review of subcritical water technologies
Toor, S. S., Rosendahl, L., & Rudolf, A. (2011) · Energy · doi:10.1016/j.energy.2011.03.013 · Cited by 1,840 · see citing works
Biller, P., & Ross, A. B. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.028 · Cited by 1,131 · see citing works
Commercialization potential of microalgae for biofuels production
Singh, J., & Gu, S. (2010) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2010.06.014 · Cited by 1,001 · cited 4× · see citing works
“(a) Regions and (b) technologies in algae biofuel production, adapted from [6].”
BackgroundInfluentialSlade, R., & Bauen, A. (2013) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.12.019 · Cited by 978 · see citing works
Microalgae biofuels: A critical review of issues, problems and the way forward
Lam, M. K., & Lee, K. T. (2011) · Biotechnology Advances · doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.11.008 · Cited by 938 · see citing works
Hydrothermal liquefaction and gasification of Nannochloropsis sp.
Brown, T. M., Duan, P., & Savage, P. E. (2010) · Energy & Fuels · doi:10.1021/ef100203u · Cited by 745 · see citing works
An engineered microbial platform for direct biofuel production from brown macroalgae
Wargacki, A. J., Leonard, E., Win, M. N., Regitsky, D. D., Santos, C. N. S., Kim, P. B., Cooper, S. R., Raisner, R. M., Herman, A., Sivitz, A. B., et al. (2012) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1214547 · Cited by 734 · see citing works
López Barreiro, D., Prins, W., Ronsse, F., & Brilman, W. (2013) · Biomass and Bioenergy · doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.12.029 · Cited by 695 · see citing works
Troell, M., Joyce, A., Chopin, T., Neori, A., Buschmann, A. H., & Fang, J.-G. (2009) · Aquaculture · doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2009.09.010 · Cited by 689 · see citing works
Marine macroalgae: an untapped resource for producing fuels and chemicals
Wei, N., Quarterman, J., & Jin, Y. (2012) · Trends in biotechnology · doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2012.10.009 · Cited by 597 · see citing works
Fast pyrolysis of microalgae to produce renewable fuels
Miao, X., Wu, Q., & Yang, C. (2004) · Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis · doi:10.1016/j.jaap.2003.11.004 · Cited by 568 · see citing works
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Macroalgae Enteromorpha prolifera to Bio-oil
Zhou, D., Zhang, L., Zhang, S., Fu, H., & Chen, J. (2010) · Energy & Fuels · doi:10.1021/ef100151h · Cited by 531 · see citing works
Jena, U., Das, K. C., & Kastner, J. R. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.057 · Cited by 500 · see citing works
Anastasakis, K., & Ross, A. B. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.01.031 · Cited by 490 · see citing works
Mechanism and challenges in commercialisation of algal biofuels
Singh, A., Nigam, P. S., & Murphy, J. D. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.057 · Cited by 476 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Moreover, municipal wastewater streams can be harvest to provide additional nutrients [13].”
BackgroundSingh, A., & Olsen, S. I. (2011) · Applied Energy · doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.12.012 · Cited by 471 · see citing works
Conversion of Microalgae to Biofuel
Suali, E., & Sarbatly, R. (2012) · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.rser.2012.03.047 · Cited by 456 · see citing works
Jena, U., & Das, K. C. (2011) · Energy & Fuels · doi:10.1021/ef201373m · Cited by 405 · see citing works
Recent advances in liquid biofuel production from algal feedstocks
Daroch, M., Geng, S., & Wang, G. (2012) · Applied Energy · doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.07.031 · Cited by 385 · see citing works
Kraan, S. (2010) · Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change · doi:10.1007/s11027-010-9275-5 · Cited by 385 · see citing works
Systems and economic analysis of microalgae ponds for conversion of CO2 to biomass
Benemann, J. R., & Oswald, W. J. (1994) · NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N · Cited by 374 · see citing works
Catalytic hydrothermal processing of microalgae: decomposition and upgrading of lipids
Biller, P., Riley, R., & Ross, A. B. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.12.113 · Cited by 287 · see citing works
Macroalgae as a Biomass Feedstock: A Preliminary Analysis
Roesijadi, G., Jones, S. B., Snowden-Swan, L. J., & Zhu, Y. (2010) · doi:10.2172/1006310 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
California Univ., B., Benemann, J., USDOE Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, W., & Oswald, W. J. (1996) · doi:10.2172/493389 · Cited by 247 · see citing works
Adams, J. M. M., Ross, A. B., Anastasakis, K., Hodgson, E., Gallagher, J. A., Jones, J. M., & Donnison, I. S. (2010) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.06.152 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
The offshore-ring: a new system design for the open ocean aquaculture of macroalgae.
Buck, B. H., & Buchholz, C. M. (2004) · Journal of Applied Phycology · doi:10.1023/b:japh.0000047947.96231.ea · Cited by 237 · see citing works
Seasonal variation in Laminaria digitata and its impact on biochemical conversion routes to biofuels
Adams, J. M. M., Toop, T. A., Donnison, I. S., & Gallagher, J. A. (2011) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.08.032 · Cited by 222 · see citing works
Sánchez‐Mirón, A., Cerón-García, M. C., García-Camacho, F., Grima, E. M., & Yusuf Chisti, B. (2002) · Enzyme and Microbial Technology · doi:10.1016/s0141-0229(02)00229-6 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Microalgae as second generation biofuel. A review
Singh, N., & Dhar, D. W. (2011) · Agronomy for Sustainable Development · doi:10.1007/s13593-011-0018-0 · Cited by 206 · see citing works
Hirano, A., Hon-Nami, K., Kunito, S., Hada, M., & Ogushi, Y. (1998) · Catalysis Today · doi:10.1016/s0920-5861(98)00275-2 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Life cycle assessment of biofuel production from brown seaweed in Nordic conditions
Alvarado-Morales, M., Boldrin, A., Karakashev, D. B., Holdt, S. L., Angelidaki, İ., & Astrup, T. F. (2012) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.11.029 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
Oily Products from Mosses and Algae via Pyrolysis
Demirbaş, A. (2006) · Energy Sources Part A Recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects · doi:10.1080/009083190910389 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Hydroprocessing of crude palm oil at pilot plant scale
Guzman, A., Torres, J. E., Prada, L. P., et al. (2010) · Catalysis Today · doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2009.11.015 · Cited by 174 · see citing works
Bezergianni, S., Dimitriadis, A., Kalogianni, A., & Pilavachi, P. A. (2010) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.03.081 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Microalgae biofuel potentials (Review)
Ghasemi, Y., Rasoul‐Amini, S., Naseri, A. T., Montazeri‐Najafabady, N., Mobasher, M. A., & Dabbagh, F. (2012) · Applied Biochemistry and Microbiology · doi:10.1134/s0003683812020068 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Suganya, T., Gandhi, N. N., & Renganathan, S. (2012) · Bioresource Technology · doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.10.068 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Vanegas, C., & Bartlett, J. (2013) · Environmental Technology · doi:10.1080/09593330.2013.765922 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Simple extraction method of green crude from natural blue-green microalgae by dimethyl ether
Kanda, H., & Li, P. (2010) · Fuel · doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2010.10.057 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
World seaweed resources. An authoritative reference system
McHugh, D. J. (2006) · Botanica Marina · doi:10.1515/bot.2006.057 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Stirk, W. A. (2006) · South African Journal of Botany · doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2006.06.007 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Roberts, T., & Upham, P. (2012) · Marine Policy · doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2012.03.001 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Hughes, A. D., Black, K., Campbell, I., Heymans, J. J., Orr, K., Stanley, M. S., & Kelly, M. S. (2012) · Marine Policy · doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2012.08.001 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Reducing the environmental impact of sea-cage fish farming through cultivation of seaweed
Sanderson, J. C. (2006) · UTAS Research Repository · doi:10.21954/ou.ro.0000fb02 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Use of biomass for producing liquid fuel: Current state and innovations
Chernova, N. I., Коробкова, Т. П., & Киселева, С. В. (2010) · Thermal Engineering · doi:10.1134/s0040601510110054 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Ravishankar, G. A., Sarada, R., Srivatsan, V., et al. (2012) · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Reith, J. H., van Hal, J. W., & Lenstra, W. J. (2012) · TNO Repository · Cited by 3 · see citing works
O’Sullivan, G., McDonough, N., & Pedreschi, D. (2009) · Marine Institute Open Access Repository (Marine Institute) · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 4
- Skjermo, J. Macroalgae Activities in Norway; Nordic Algae Workshop: Grenaa, Denmark, 2012.
- Bruton, T.; Lyons, H.; Lerat, Y.; Stanley, M.; Rasmussen, M.B. A Review of the Potential of Marine Algae as a Source of Biofuel in Ireland; Sustainable Energy Ireland: Dublin, Ireland, 2009.
- Makkar, H.P.S., Ed.; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Rome, Italy, 2012; Chapter 24, pp. 423-446.
- Farrelly, D.; Fagan, C.; McDonnell, K. Effect of Carbon Dioxide Concentrations on the Carbon Mitigation Potential of Microalgae. In Biosystems Engineering Research Review 17;
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Macroalgae-derived biofuel: A review of methods of energy extraction from seaweed biomass
Milledge, J., Smith, B., Dyer, P., & Harvey, P. (2014) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en7117194 · Cited by 327 · see citing works
Milledge, J. J., Nielsen, B. V., & Bailey, D. (2016) · Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology · doi:10.1007/s11157-015-9381-7 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
A Brief Review of Anaerobic Digestion of Algae for Bioenergy
Milledge, J. J., Nielsen, B. V., Maneein, S., & Harvey, P. J. (2019) · Energies · doi:10.3390/en12061166 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Maneein, S., Milledge, J. J., Nielsen, B. V., & Harvey, P. J. (2018) · Fermentation · doi:10.3390/fermentation4040100 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
The Enzymatic Conversion of Major Algal and Cyanobacterial Carbohydrates to Bioethanol
Al Abdallah, Q., Nixon, B. T., & Fortwendel, J. R. (2016) · Frontiers in Energy Research · doi:10.3389/fenrg.2016.00036 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Methods of energy extraction from microalgal biomass: A review
Milledge, J. J., & Heaven, S. (2014) · Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology · doi:10.1007/s11157-014-9339-1 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Key Targets for Improving Algal Biofuel Production
Griffiths, G., Hossain, A. K., Sharma, V., & Duraisamy, G. (2021) · Clean Technologies · doi:10.3390/cleantechnol3040043 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
- Authors
- Murphy, F., Devlin, G., Deverell, R., & McDonnell, K.
- Affiliations
- University College Dublin (IE)
- Hall, La Touche House, Custom House Dock, IFSC, Dublin 1, Ireland
- Corresponding author
- Devlin, Ger
- Venue
- Energies
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2013-12-04
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 6391-6412
- ISSN
- 1996-1073 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2156219681
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Energies (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Research Repository UCD (University College Dublin) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- Science Foundation Ireland (6C/CP/E001)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Biodiesel Production and Applications
- Keywords
- biofuel production, algal biomass, microalgae, seaweed, biodiesel, bioethanol, waste cooking oil, tallow, oilseed rape, algae cultivation, algal harvesting, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, Ireland
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
