Depletion Of Non-renewable Resources Research Articles

Assessing the Impact of Sustainable Development in NRCRI With Regards To Environmental Aspects: Health and Safety With Regards To the Engineering Departments and Field Farm Workers

In recent times, there has been an increase in the rate of pollution of our environment and this is evident as shown in rapid climate change, ozone layer depletion, toxic pollution, depletion of non renewable resources, acidification and eutrofication of our soils and water. With all these environmental challenges, there is still increase in population and more mouths to feed. If these effects are not controlled or reduced, it means that before long, there will be an increase in the extinction of species, scarcity of fresh water and possibly more extreme weather conditions and loss of agricultural production and biodiversity, As a foremost research institute, we have goals and mandates to meet with regards to roots and tuber crops and achieving these set goals and mandates will promote sustainable agricultural development in our country. On the other hand, these mandates can only be achieved by our human workforce if they work under a safe and protected environment. Therefore, it is very important that we make sure that our work does not in any way affect our employees or add to the jeopardy of the environment because it is the workforce that will see to it that our mandates are achieved under sustainable development. In a country like Nigeria, it is naturally believed that Health, Safety and Environment is only synonymous with the oil and gas sector, big construction companies, engineering and manufacturing firms. As a research institute in the Agricultural sector, we carry out research work that involves our employees working in different laboratories where the work with different types of chemicals and organisms that are hazardous to health, we have field operations in the farms where our employees work with hand held tools and are exposed to different harsh weather conditions, engineering sector, wielding units as well as kitchen departments and other various units.

Universe: Not Expanding

Contrary to the widespread belief, the Universe is neither expanding nor contracting. What is taking place is the orbit dilation of the galaxies. The orbit dilation is a phenomenon that results from the mass creation due to energy to mass conversion occurring in galaxies. The absence of Universe expansion indicates that the origin of the Universe cannot be traced back in time to a hypothetical Big-Bang. The Orbit Dilation Theorem and the Orbit Acceleration Theorem that describe the mechanics of orbit dilation are derived under the axiom that the mass of a galaxy or a planet is time varying and never remains a constant. These theorems are then used to demonstrate how and why galaxies are moving away always at an accelerated rate. There is absolutely no space expansion hypothesis required for determining why the distance galaxies are moving away at an accelerated rate. The galactic and planetary orbits are dynamic and are always either dilating or contracting in accordance with the rate of change of the logarithmic mass, while orbit acceleration takes place in proportion to the second derivative of the mass with respect to time per unit mass; the galactic and planetary orbits never remain static. It is also shown that as a result of orbit dilation and orbit contraction, galaxies may occasionally come into collision course with each other; however, a singular cohesive collision of the galaxies leading to a Big-Bang is improbable because it is highly unlikely that the assumption required would be supported in the nature. Hubble’s velocity-distance relationship is obtained as a possible, but quite improbable special case of the Orbit Dilation Theorem; it is improbable because the assumption, the rate of change of logarithmic mass is a constant, that had to be made cannot be expected to satisfy in nature. The acceleration of a galaxy in Hubble relationship is the square of the Hubble Constant times the distance to the galaxy. The Orbit Dilation Theorem and the Orbit Acceleration Theorem are also used to analyze the behavior of the solar system. The orbit contraction is prevalent in planetary systems as a result of mass loss due to mass to energy conversion, especially due to radiation and non-renewable resource depletion. The earth’s orbit contraction leads to global warming, as well as, to the gradual shortening of the year. It is possible to counter balance the orbit contraction and resulting global warming by limiting the depletion of non-renewable resources, as well as by protecting and sustaining the mass creation or the energy to mass conversion that is naturally taking place in the bio-mass.

Life Cycle Impact Assessment of a Solar Assisted Heat Pump for Domestic Hot Water Production and Space Heating

Solar heat pumps (SHP) are a class of heating systems combining solar thermal technology with heat pumps. In this article the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) of a SHP system used to produce domestic hot water (DHW) and space heating (SH) for single family dwellings is presented. This study intends to evaluate the environmental impacts of the energy and material used in a serial SHP installation and identify areas for improvement by applying a “cradle-to-grave” approach when analysing the system. This includes the installation materials both in their manufacturing and disposal phases as well as the energy consumption for DHW and SH throughout a service life of 20 years. In addition, it provides a comparison against two other residential heating systems operating with the same life expectancy. In this LCIA, two environmental related indicators are used, one associated with depletion of non-renewable energy resources (CEDNRE) and the other with climate change (GWP). The impact of the type of electricity used was also investigated by defining, in addition to the European supply mix, an alternative supply mix with electricity deriving from renewable sources. This study shows that SHP have lower environmental impacts than systems operating on electricity only. Installations with large solar collector surfaces are also seen to lead to lower energy consumption related impacts. If the electricity used by these systems derives from renewable sources, the environmental performance improves. However, under these conditions, the SHP impact (material and energy consumption) related to climate change will be of the same order as that of the electric system due to a higher contribution of the infrastructure content of these systems.

Modeling Peak Oil and the Geological Constraints on Oil Production

We propose a model to reconcile the theory of inter-temporal non-renewable resource depletion with well-known stylized facts concerning the exploitation of exhaustible resources such as oil. Our approach introduces geological constraints into a Hotelling type extraction-exploration model. We show that such constraints, in combination with initially small reserves and strictly convex exploration costs, can coherently explain bell-shaped peaks in natural resource extraction and hence U-shapes in prices. As production increases, marginal profits (marginal revenues less marginal extraction cost) are observed to decline, while as production decreases, marginal profits rise at a positive rate that is not necessarily the rate of discount. A numerical calibration of the model to the world oil market shows that geological constraints have the potential to substantially increase the future oil price. While some (small) non-OPEC producers are found to increase production in response to higher oil prices induced by the geological constraints, most (large) producers’ production declines, leading to a lower peak level for global oil production.

SOLAR POWERED STIRLING ENGINE DRIVEN WATER PUMP

Depletion of non-renewable resources has been a major problem that w e face in today’s world, thus taking this into cons ideration this paper we deal with the powering of water pump using solar en ergy, for this purpose we use the principle of stir ling cycle to achieve the desired result. Parabolic mirror is use d to concentrate the solar beams onto the area wher e enough energy is prod drive t he stirling engine which works on the basic princip al of the conversion of the heat energy to mechanic al work depending on th heat difference being provided. A country like India, where energy crisis is a freq uently observed problem, our system could be o great use especially in the areas where water deficiency is high, where shortage of electri city is a known fact. Our system uses the only abundant renewable en ergy that is the sun light generate electric power, this meth od can act as an important tool.

TREATMENT OF WASTEWATER AND ELECTRICITY GENERATION USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

The need for alternate eco-friendly fuel is increas ing rapidly with the depletion of non-renewable ene rgy resources. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a new form of renewable ener gy, which converts organic matter into electricity with the help of bacteria present in wastewater, while simultaneously treatin g the wastewater. In the present study single chamb er (MFC-1) and double chambered (MFC-2) MFCs were compared for domestic a nd dairy wastewater treatment and electricity gener ation. MFC-1 was proved to be more efficient and found to be produci ng maximum current of 0.84 mA and 1.02mA whereas MF C-2 produced maximum current of 0.56mA and 0.58mA from full strength (10 0%) domestic and dairy wastewater concentrations re spectively. COD removal efficiency achieved in MFC-2 was 88.4% and 86.42% f or 100% domestic and dairy wastewater concentration s respectively when compared with MFC-1 which attained 86.6% and 84.8% respectively for 100% domestic and dairy wastewater concentrations respectively. The performance of MFC-1 and MFC-2 de creased, when the wastewater concentration was decr eased from 100% to 75% and 50% concentrations.

The Sustainability and Future of Energy and Environment - A Vision to Target

The world of sustainability is changing rapidly. The loopholes of the laws of energy and environmental sustainability are changing and exposed in a vibrant manner. So the ultimate need is to target sustainability in a war-footing. The answers to the wide ranging question of environmental and energy sustainability is far-reaching and ground-breaking to our human society. Environmental and energy sustainability is intricately linked with sustainable development and human survival. The answers to mankind’s suffering are intricate, also at the same time visionary and bewildering. The world of unknown in the field of science and technology of renewable energy is giving place to the veritable certainity and knowledge. The plight of human society due to environmental disasters throughout the span of different nations is awesome and immense. The depletion of non-renewable resources has plunged our human society in a disastrous dilemma. Here comes the answer of environmental sustainability and energy sustainability. Environmental restrictions and regulations with the attached unbilical cord of human survival has made our human society to be more rigid and rigorous. This scientific effort highlights the important facets of renewable energy and its impact on human survival in future. The questions of environmental sustainability are varied and unanswered. So the vision of this research effort is to tackle and uncover the hidden aspects of renewable energy and the remedies behind the far-reaching questions of environmental disasters. The endeavour is wide and varied carrying an enormous promise to the answers to human survival in this age of energy and environmental uncertainity.

Características produtivas e morfológicas de frutos de tomateiro cultivado com bioproduto de batata

Enquanto a adubação mineral onera os custos de produção e contribui para o esgotamento dos recursos naturais não renováveis, a aplicação de subprodutos industriais pode constituir uma alternativa adequada para a fertilização das culturas. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de bioproduto de batata sobre caracteres produtivos, morfológicos e de qualidade de frutos de tomateiro cultivado em túnel plástico e a campo nos períodos de primavera-verão e de outono-inverno. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos, um em túnel plástico e outro a campo, ambos no delineamento de blocos ao acaso com três repetições em um bifatorial com dois intervalos de aplicação de bioproduto de batata (após todas as colheitas e em colheitas alternadas) e quatro doses de aplicação (1, 2, 3 ou 4 L ha-1). Também foram utilizadas quatro testemunhas adicionais: (T1) adubação mineral em cobertura; (T2) adubação mineral em cobertura mais 50 L ha-1 de bioproduto de batata aplicados aos 30 e 60 dias após o transplante; (T3) 100 L ha-1 de bioproduto de batata aplicados a cada 15 dias e; (T4) adubação mineral em cobertura mais 0,5 L ha-1 de bioproduto de batata aplicados após todas as colheitas. Foram avaliadas a massa, o número, o comprimento e a largura de frutos, o número de frutos deformados, com lóculo aberto, podridão apical e rachadura radial. Na primavera-verão, o bioproduto de batata não alterou a massa, o número, o comprimento e a largura de frutos de tomateiro, enquanto, no outono-inverno, reduziu a massa, o comprimento e a largura dos frutos. Na primavera-verão e no outono-inverno, o bioproduto de batata não alterou o número de frutos deformados, com lóculo aberto, podridão apical e rachadura radial. Dessa forma, a aplicação de bioproduto de batata nas doses e formas preconizadas nesse trabalho não é recomendável para a cultura do tomateiro.

Thermodynamic evaluation of biomass-to-biofuels production systems

Biomass is a renewable feedstock for producing modern energy carriers. However, the usage of biomass is accompanied by possible drawbacks, mainly due to limitation of land and water, and competition with food production. In this paper, the analysis concerns so-called second generation biofuels, like Fischer–Tropsch fuels or Substitute Natural Gas which are produced either from wood or from waste biomass. For these biofuels the most promising conversion case is the one which involves production of syngas from biomass gasification, followed by synthesis of biofuels. The thermodynamic efficiency of biofuels production is analyzed and compared using both the direct exergy analysis and the thermo-ecological cost. This analysis leads to the detection of exergy losses in various elements which forms the starting point to the improvement of conversion efficiency. The efficiency of biomass conversion to biofuels is also evaluated for the whole production chain, including biomass cultivation, transportation and conversion. The global effects of natural resources management are investigated using the thermo-ecological cost. The energy carriers' utilities such as electricity and heat are externally generated either from fossil fuels or from renewable biomass. In the former case the production of biofuels not always can be considered as a renewable energy source whereas in the latter case the production of biofuels leads always to the reduction of depletion of non-renewable resources.

Metabolic Engineering with Plants for a Sustainable Biobased Economy

Plants are bona fide sustainable organisms because they accumulate carbon and synthesize beneficial metabolites from photosynthesis. To meet the challenges to food security and health threatened by increasing population growth and depletion of nonrenewable natural resources, recent metabolic engineering efforts have shifted from single pathways to holistic approaches with multiple genes owing to integration of omics technologies. Successful engineering of plants results in the high yield of biomass components for primary food sources and biofuel feedstocks, pharmaceuticals, and platform chemicals through synthetic biology and systems biology strategies. Further discovery of undefined biosynthesis pathways in plants, integrative analysis of discrete omics data, and diversified process developments for production of platform chemicals are essential to overcome the hurdles for sustainable production of value-added biomolecules from plants.

The Sustainability and Future of Energy and Environment - A Vision to Target

The world of sustainability is changing rapidly. The loopholes of the laws of energy and environmental sustainability are changing and exposed in a vibrant manner. So the ultimate need is to target sustainability in a war-footing. The answers to the wide ranging question of environmental and energy sustainability is far-reaching and ground-breaking to our human society. Environmental and energy sustainability is intricately linked with sustainable development and human survival. The answers to mankind’s suffering are intricate, also at the same time visionary and bewildering. The world of unknown in the field of science and technology of renewable energy is giving place to the veritable certainity and knowledge. The plight of human society due to environmental disasters throughout the span of different nations is awesome and immense. The depletion of non-renewable resources has plunged our human society in a disastrous dilemma. Here comes the answer of environmental sustainability and energy sustainability. Environmental restrictions and regulations with the attached unbilical cord of human survival has made our human society to be more rigid and rigorous. This scientific effort highlights the important facets of renewable energy and its impact on human survival in future. The questions of environmental sustainability are varied and unanswered. So the vision of this research effort is to tackle and uncover the hidden aspects of renewable energy and the remedies behind the far-reaching questions of environmental disasters. The endeavour is wide and varied carrying an enormous promise to the answers to human survival in this age of energy and environmental uncertainity.

Plastics and environmental health: the road ahead

Plastics continue to benefit society in innumerable ways, even though recent public focus on plastics has centered mostly on human health and environmental concerns, including their endocrine-disrupting properties and the long-term pollution they represent. The benefits of plastics are particularly apparent in medicine and public health. Plastics are versatile, cost-effective, require less energy to produce than alternative materials like metal or glass, and can be manufactured to have many different properties. Due to these characteristics, polymers are used in diverse health applications like disposable syringes and intravenous bags, sterile packaging for medical instruments as well as in joint replacements, tissue engineering, etc. However, not all current uses of plastics are prudent and sustainable, as illustrated by the widespread, unwanted human exposure to endocrine-disrupting bisphenol A (BPA) and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), problems arising from the large quantities of plastic being disposed of, and depletion of non-renewable petroleum resources as a result of the ever-increasing mass production of plastic consumer articles. Using the health-care sector as example, this review concentrates on the benefits and downsides of plastics and identifies opportunities to change the composition and disposal practices of these invaluable polymers for a more sustainable future consumption. It highlights ongoing efforts to phase out DEHP and BPA in the health-care and food industry and discusses biodegradable options for plastic packaging, opportunities for reducing plastic medical waste, and recycling in medical facilities in the quest to reap a maximum of benefits from polymers without compromising human health or the environment in the process.

Producción y caracterización de biodiésel a partir de aceite de pollo

En la actualidad se viene trabajando en todo el mundo en la sustitución de los combustibles fósiles por combustibles alternativos, entre otras razones por el agotamiento de los recursos naturales no renovables y por las emisiones que aquellos producen, generando con ello importantes efectos ambientales. Este artículo hace parte de la investigación Producción y caracterización de biodiésel a partir de grasa de pollo adelantada entre el 2009 y el 2012. Se realizaron pruebas de viscosidad y densidad, curva de destilación y cálculo del índice de cetano con el fin de determinar la factibilidad de utilizar biodiésel como combustible en los motores de combustión interna de encendido por compresión MCI-EC. El estudio demostró que el biodiésel obtenido cumple con la normatividad técnica para biocombustibles líquidos, vigente a nivel internacional, por lo que podría ser utilizado con éxito en motores de combustión interna.

Micro Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Design Integrated with Wind Accelerating Techniques

Power generation from natural wind is the crucial issue due to rapid depletion of non-renewable energy resources and their pollution demerits. Most observers agreed that long-term economic growth will require technical innovation to make wind energy more competitive with other forms of energy. One among the key trends is the push to improve productivity. Vertical axis wind turbines are capable of extracting power from wind regardless of direction of natural wind flow. Very less work is devoted to improve the characteristics of wind to make it more useable for power generation. Major portion of the research is related to the wind energy system design that caters the domestic needs. A micro vertical axis wind turbine system with integrated wind accelerating techniques is proposed. At the outer of the turbine a wind accelerating convergent duct with larger wind area is proposed, that will perform as a nozzle action to accelerate the natural wind when it strikes on the front half portion of the turbine blades. Proposed micro wind turbine is also integrated with satellite dish type parabolic structure, mounted at the top of the turbine. The parabolic concentrator surface is coated with sun rays reflecting mirrors, sunlight striking on paraboliod surface is directed to words a heat absorbing hollow cylinder, erected at the center of the paraboliod concentrator. Hollow cylinder is the path channel for air leaving the turbine. Air molecules passing through this channel will be heated up, moving rapidly up word creating momentum in air leaving from the turbine. Design of the proposed vertical axis wind turbine system integrated with wind accelerating techniques and experimental study of wind accelerating duct composed of various section is reported in this research work.

Framework of Environmental Management Accounting: An Overview

This article is intended to understand environmental management accounting, its increasing importance, and new developments. The global profile of environmental issues has risen significantly during the past two decades, precipitated in part by major incidents such as the Bhopal chemical leak (1984) and the Exxon Valdez oil spill (1989). These events received worldwide media attention and increased concerns over major issues such as global warming, depletion of non-renewable resources, and loss of natural habitats. This study paper highlights on the utilization and benefits of using environmental management accounting for firms. In order to realize the uses and benefits of such a system, a framework is drawn to develop and implement an environmental management accounting system within an organization. The paper also compares and finds the difference between traditional financial accounting method and environmental management accounting to outline the importance of the later system in the current business environment. The research paper also discusses the methods of finding environmental costs and how the companies can accrue saving and generate revenues by separating environmental costs from general accounting. The paper attempts to find out the basic benefits companies can garner by adopting an efficient environment management accounting practice which has the primary role to lead a company in the path of progress through eco-friendly initiatives. Furthermore, the research would validate the use of system in aiding management decisions regarding designing environmental friendly products, attuning production process and managing wastes. Although, environmental management accounting is a new approach to improve the environmental performance of a company, proper implementation of the system can assure transparency for the company to report the environmental costs clearly and help them in accessing their corporate social responsibility initiatives as well. All this, in turn enhance the image of the company in the media as well as amongst its shareholders.

Enhancement of hydrogen production by secondary metal oxide dopants on NiO/CaO material for catalytic gasification of empty palm fruit bunches

The increase of fossil fuel burning to meet massive energy demands has resulted in major environmental problems. Extensive green house gas emissions and the depletion of non-renewable resources have promoted the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source. Empty palm fruit bunches (EFB) are a type of agricultural waste that have a high potential for use as a sustainable biomass feedstock for hydrogen production. This study is focused on generation of biomass-derived hydrogen through catalytic biomass gasification using a modified CaO-based catalyst. The catalyst was prepared by adding 5% Ni as a primary dopant, followed by the addition of secondary dopants (La, K, Co, Fe) through a wet impregnation method, and characterised by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), N2 adsorption (BET) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The synthesised catalysts were used as the primary catalysts in the reaction and were tested in temperature programmed gasification (TPG). The reaction was carried out in a partial oxygen environment by incorporating the biomass with the catalyst in a ratio of 1:2 from 50 to 900 °C and the product gases were detected by an online mass spectrometer. Interestingly, the addition of secondary dopants significantly increased the hydrogen production with notable changes in the CO2 absorption capacity of the catalyst. Moreover, K, Co and Fe dopants showed tar reforming properties and the highest hydrogen yield was observed with K as the added catalyst.

Environmental Impact Assessment of Wood Pulp from a Eucalyptus Plantation in South China by Using Life-Cycle Analysis

Abstract This exploratory study evaluated the environmental impacts associated with Bleached Eucalyptus Kraft Pulp supplied from a eucalyptus plantation in South China by applying the life-cycle analysis approach. The system boundary was defined by a “cradle-to-gate” perspective including the forest subsystem and the pulp mill subsystem. Key processes were investigated and site-specific data were collected during 2009 and 2010 through field trips to a leading plantation operator and a representative pulp mill in China. Umberto 5.5 software was used to conduct a life-cycle inventory, which compiled all the inputs and outputs of the examined system. Hot-spot processes with high environmental burdens were identified with regard to selected impact categories of global warming, acidification, eutrophication, nonrenewable resources depletion, and human toxicity. According to the findings of this study, the forest subsystem showed significant contributions to the total environmentaltable4 burdens in almost all impact categories, mainly due to the application of fertilizers in eucalyptus plantation management. The study discovered that while the pulp mill subsystem was the primary contributor to global warming impacts, the upstream processes of raw materials and energy production accounted for more than half of the impacts of acidification, human toxicity, and resources depletion. Therefore, eucalyptus plantation management and the supply of raw materials and energy in pulp mills in China are concluded to be concerns for future development. These findings may help the Chinese forest industry and pulp industry achieve better environmental performance toward sustainable development.

Life cycle approach for energy and environmental analysis of biomass and coal co-firing in CHP plant with backpressure turbine

Generation of near CO2 free energy (electricity and heat) in existing large co-generation technologies can be achieved by partial substitution of fossil fuels with biomass commonly regarded as CO2-neutral fuel. Co-firing of biomass with fossil fuels aims at reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and non-renewable fuel resources depletion. Life cycle analysis was carried out for hard coal and two biomass sorts of different origin (willow chips and residual wood chips) requiring a diverse approach for their upstream inventory of non-renewable energy resources depletion and GHG emission. These fuels are co-combusted in a combined heat and power plant (CHP plant) for generation of electricity and heat. As in the case of cogeneration process, it was necessary to allocate the harmful effects between both energy carriers. Allocation of the burdens basing on the principle of the avoided process has been proposed. The empirical correlations concerning the electricity consumption of boiler auxiliaries' and boiler energy efficiency along with the increasing share of biomass in the fuel blend were applied in the calculations. The functional unit chosen to compare the results was 1 TJ of heat. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to bring the final conclusions and recommendations. Both environmental burdens (non-renewable resources depletion and the greenhouse effect) are dependant on the share of biomass in the combusted blend. It was proved, that the partial substitution of coal with biomass (in the considered range of 0–20% on the thermal basis) leads to the decrease of the total life-cycle non-renewable energy resources depletion and cumulative GHG emissions for generation and supply of 1 MJ of heat (functional unit) and 1 MWh of electricity generated during multifunctional process of combined heat and power generation. Residual biomass shows its advantages over dedicated energy crops (on the example of willow biomass). Additionally, it has been proved, that the share of operational component dominates in the total system burdens concerning the regarded life cycle.

TOWARDS A NEW VISION FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN PARKS A CASE STUDY OF ALAIN WILDLIFE PARK IN ABU DHABI

ABSTRACTThe interest of all human societies with environment has grown recentlyespecially after lifestyle associated with dangerous environmental crisis, such as lossof biodiversity and shrinking green space, air and water pollution , global w arming andthe depletion of non-renewable resources, which prompted the call for a sustainablealternative model works to achieve harmony between the achievement of developmentobjectives on the one hand and the protection of the environment and sustainabi lity onthe other hand The UN Conference on Environment and Development include a set ofcriteria and indicators that reflect the positive outlook for the sustainability of humansettlements development to create an environment based high -efficiency. Urban parksare considered one of the important mechanisms for achieving sustainable urbandevelopment from this standpoint this research focuses on the study of urban parks andtheir role in achieving sustainable development. It then concentrate on a case stu dy ofone of the sustainable success environmental parks in Abu Dhabi (Al Ain park) as amodel for environmental and identify the advantages to find out extent of applicationof each to sustainable development criteria in order to get cleaner and greenenvironment in the future follow the highest standards of sustainable development.

Recent developments in the production of liquid fuels via catalytic conversion of microalgae: experiments and simulations

Due to continuing high demand, depletion of non-renewable resources and increasing concerns about climate change, the use of fossil fuel-derived transportation fuels faces relentless challenges both from a world markets and an environmental perspective. The production of renewable transportation fuel from microalgae continues to attract much attention because of its potential for fast growth rates, high oil content, ability to grow in unconventional scenarios, and inherent carbon neutrality. Moreover, the use of microalgae would minimize “food versus fuel” concerns associated with several biomass strategies, as microalgae do not compete with food crops in the food chain. This paper reviews the progress of recent research on the production of transportation fuels via homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic conversions of microalgae. This review also describes the development of tools that may allow for a more fundamental understanding of catalyst selection and conversion processes using computational modelling. The catalytic conversion reaction pathways that have been investigated are fully discussed based on both experimental and theoretical approaches. Finally, this work makes several projections for the potential of various thermocatalytic pathways to produce alternative transportation fuels from algae, and identifies key areas where the authors feel that computational modelling should be directed to elucidate key information to optimize the process.