Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
9.1 MICROALGAE FOR BIOENERGY
Microalgae are well recognized for their potential to contribute as an important
energy source as well as to provide a renewable feedstock for commodity organic
products. Their role as a renewable energy source has promise for both the pro-
duction of liquid fuels, including diesel, gasoline, and jet fuels, and electricity
generation. Routes to these energy sources include accumulation of algal oil for
transesterification to biodiesel, fermentation to alcohols for inclusion in gasoline,
production of hydrogen, anaerobic digestion to biogas, thermal processing to bio-oil,
co-combustion, and gasification (Chisti and Yan, 2011).
The technical feasibility of algal biomass as a source of bioenergy has been demon-
strated for a number of the products described above. Further evidence of the commer-
cial interest in these products is demonstrated by both the R&D investment of leading
energy companies, including Exxon, BP, Chevron, Shell, and Neste Oil (Norsker et al.,
2011), as well as a number of start-up companies attempting commercialization of
algal fuels (Table 9.1). However, it is recognized that these products remain expensive
in comparison to petroleum-based products. Further, it is essential to understand the
environmental benefits of these process routes objectively. Optimization of the product
spectrum in terms of economic and environmental sustainability is best informed by a
rigorous analytical approach that informs the key process targets for their improvement.
This chapter focuses on the economic and environmental impacts of the production
of algal oil and biodiesel as primary products, owing to the comprehensive analysis
of these routes. Processing of algal biomass to secondary products in a biorefinery
approach is included to explore the potential of algal energy more completely. The
alternative bioenergy products are not considered comprehensively here.
TABLE 9.1
Start-Up Companies for Algal Biofuels
Company
Location
Website
Algenol Biofuels
Bonita Springs, FL, USA
www.algenolbiofuels.com
Aquaflow
Nelson, New Zealand
www.aquaflowgroup.com
Aurora Algae Inc
Hayward, CA, USA
www.aurorainc.com
Bioalgene
Seattle, WA, USA
www.bioalgne.com
Bionavitas, Inc.
Redmond, WA, USA
www.bionavitas.com
Bodega Algae, LLC
Boston, MA, USA
www.bodegaalgae.com
LiveFuels, Inc.
San Carlos, CA, USA
www.livefuels.com
PetroAlgae Inc.
Melbourne, FL, USA
www.petroalgae.com
Phyco Biosciences
Chandler, AZ, USA
www.phyco.net
Sapphire Energy, Inc.
San Diego, CA, USA
www.sapphireenergy.com
Seambiotic Ltd.
Tel Aviv, Israel
www.seambiotic.com
Solazyme, Inc.
South San Francisco, CA, USA
www.solazyme.com
Solix Biofuels, Inc.
Fort Collins, CO, USA
www.solixbiofuels.com
Synthetic Genomics, Inc.
La Jolla, CA, USA
www.syntheticgenomics.com
Source:
From Chisti and Yan (2011).
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