Algae have potential to serve as a feedstock for biofuel production due to their ability to grow rapidly using carbon dioxide, sunlight, and non-arable land or saline water. Some key points are: 1) Algae can double their biomass daily and certain species have been studied for their biofuel potential, growing in various systems like open ponds or closed photobioreactors. 2) Algae require less land than other biofuel feedstocks like soybean and could potentially meet US fuel demands on a small fraction of current agricultural land. 3) Algae cultivation could offer environmental benefits like carbon sequestration from CO2 and remediating nutrients from wastewater.

1. Biofuel Production from Algae
By
Miss Gouhar Sultana

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Algae are photosynthetic organisms
CO2 + H2O + Light Energy  Biomass
Algae very diverse: microscopic to giant kelp
Efficient, rapid growth, can double biomass in a day
Produce 50% of oxygen but are less than 1% of all
plant biomass
Few species have been studied for biofuel potential
Chlorophyceae Dinophyceae Bacillariophyceae

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Where can algae grow?
Algae can grow in aqueous suspension in many
non potable and saline water sources

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Ethanol and Biodiesel Feedstocks Must Be Expanded if
They are to Contribute Substantially
Reliance on food crops undesirable – and Limiting
Cellulosic ethanol could be part of the solution
Ethanol and biodiesel needs a non-food feedstock
Algae Can Play that Role:
Can be grown on non-arable land in saline water

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Algae can be cultivated in two ways:
In an open pond system (either naturally occurring
or engineered)
In an engineered closed system

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Unique Potential of Algae Biodiesel
 Soybean Based Biodiesel will
never contribute more than a
few percent of the possible US
diesel fuel market
 ~20 million acres of algae would
supply ALL US transportation
fuel
• Small fraction of current land use
• US currently uses ~970 million
acres for crops & grazing
Crop
Gal/Acre/yr
Of Oil
Soybean 48
Peanuts 113
Rapeseed 124
Coconut 287
Palm Oil 635
Algae 15,000
Yield per acre

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ALGAE BIOFUEL – REDUCED GLOBAL WARMING &
LOWERED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
 Algae requires CO2 for growth therefore fuel is carbon neutral
 Possible integration to achieve low-cost CO2 sequestration and
nutrient remediation
 Uses all nutrients, minimizing eutrophication
 Biodegradable, so minimal issues with accidental spills /leaks
 Uses underutilized land, e.g. deserts
 Yields >10x those for land plants so much less land is needed
 Can grow in salt, or brackish water
 Can produce high yields of
• Lipids for biodiesel
• Starch / polysaccharides for ethanol

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Encouraging Cost Projections
Analysis by General Atomics
Costs of Biodiesel from Algae
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
$/gal diesel
RelativeLikelihood

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Advantages of using algae for biofuel production
One of the most perfect choices for biofuel production
Algae grows 50 to 100 times faster than conventional
food crops
Biofuels produced from algae have the potential to
become one of the best alternative energy solution that
could one day even be capable enough to replace
currently dominant fossil fuels
Algae are unicellular organisms and do not require
freshwater resources or soil for growth

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Vision for a Center of Excellence for algae bio-
energy research, development and demonstration

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Earthrise Algae Farm
Calipatria, Ca
Salton Sea
Feasibility of algae farming proven
Scale up for biofuel will be a challenge

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