Future algal biofuels: implications of environmental temperature on production strain selection

Abstract

Current and future economic mass production of microalgae or cyanobacteria will require suitable, preferably relatively high, levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Most large-scale productions sites, as well as those under development or under consideration, have been located between 40N and 40S raising the possible issue of the algae being periodically, or routinely, subjected to elevated temperatures (>30°C). The effects of environmental temperatures in the range 8–35°C on the marine, oleaginous model alga Nannochloropsis oculata were assessed. Active growth was observed at all temperatures except 35°C, where cells bleached and died. The implications of elevated temperature regimes were assessed for a variety of potential biofuel producing, biotechnologically relevant freshwater, marine and hyper-saline algae and the implications for their biotechnological exploitability discussed.