Algae-based bioenergy production aligns with the Paris agreement goals as a carbon mitigation technology

Abstract

Strategies to mitigate climate change have been developing and applying in the productive sector. Carbon capture and storage technologies might decrease the impact of CO2 emissions on the environment. Biological technologies are an important tool to mitigate CO2 emissions and microalgae cultivation emerges as a promising alternative, due to the important role of these organisms on the environment, the capacity of growing in different conditions, and the possibility of converting the microalgae biomass into a wide range of value-added products and biofuels. This study evaluated the potential algae-based CO2 mitigation by coupling industrial flue gas of a Brazilian cement plant to a microalgae cultivation system. The biodiesel production from microalgae biomass is also investigated to replace fossil fuels. The microalgae plant facility was projected to occupy a reminiscent area of 3.8 ha in the cement plant boundary. Two different mitigation scenarios were analyzed and the results showed that by using 15% of intermittent CO2 input from the cement industry in the microalgae cultivation system it is possible to mitigate 1268 tCO2 year−1 and to produce 2317 L year−1 of biodiesel. This study provides support information to decision-making to implement carbon capture strategies in the future carbon market to mitigate the environmental impacts of climate change.