Abstract
Microalgae offer a great potential to contribute significantly as renewable fuels and documented as a promising platform for algae-based bio refineries. They provide solutions to mitigate the environmental concerns posed by conventional fuel sources; however, the production of microalgal biofuels in large scale production system encounters few technical challenges. High quantity of nutrients requirements and water cost constrain the scaling up microalgal biomass to large scale commercial production. Crop protection against biomass losses due to grazers or pathogens is another stumbling block in microalgal field cultivation. With our existing technologies, unless coupled with high-value or mid-value products, algal biofuel cannot reach the economic target. Many microalgal industries that started targeting biofuel in the last decade had now adopted parallel business plans focusing on algae by-products application as cosmetic supplements, nutraceuticals, oils, natural color, and animal feed. This review provides the current status and proposes a framework for key supply demand, challenges for cost-effective and sustainable use of water and nutrient. Emphasis is placed on the future industrial market status of value added by products of microalgal biomass. The cost factor for biorefinery process development needs to be addressed before its potential to be exploited for various value-added products with algal biofuel.
Highlights
The development of renewable energy resources has become a priority due to climate change and dwindling fossil fuel reserves
We provide a perspective on developing sustainable algal cultivation practices and bioproducts from microalgae to make the process of algal biofuel efficient and economically competitive
To make “high volume, low-cost product” like biofuel, scaling up microalgal cultivation system to a commercial level is a key in the process development
Summary
The development of renewable energy resources has become a priority due to climate change and dwindling fossil fuel reserves. Recent technoeconomic analysis has demonstrated that with existing technological readiness, algal biofuel is cost competitive with fossil fuel if combined with the production of high-value coproducts (Ruiz et al, 2016; Cruce and Quinn, 2019). We provide a perspective on developing sustainable algal cultivation practices and bioproducts from microalgae to make the process of algal biofuel efficient and economically competitive.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
