The Conceptual of Energy Demand for Polyculture Microalgae Biomass Production in Large-scale Open Raceway Pond using Excess Energy and Effluent from Palm Oil Mills

Abstract

As biofuel feedstock, microalgae biomass is potential for biofuel production. Microalgae biomass can produce various biofuel such as jet fuel, biodiesel, bioethanol, and biogas. This research is proposing the conceptual of energy demand of polyculture microalgae biomass production on large-scale Open Raceway Pond using excess energy from Palm Oil Mill. The basic analysis of energy requirement in microalgae biomass production based on existing microalgae cultivation pilot plant of Fukushima Algae Project, Japan using native polyculture microalgae in semi-continuous ORP, whereas the proposed microalgae plant is near to Palm Oil Mill in Indonesia. The analysis of energy demand based on direct energy (electricity) and indirect energy (CO 2 and nutrient). Some scenarios were offered to present total energy demand in microalgae biomass production and total energy that can be provided from excess energy of Palm Oil Mill. The selection of harvesting-dewatering technology along with ORP depth is crucial to reduce energy demand in microalgae biomass production. The result shows that the excess energy from Palm Oil Mill can fulfill direct energy demand of microalgae biomass production on large-scale Open Raceway Pond whereas gas effluent and POME effluent can supply enough CO 2 , total N, and total P.