Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae
Third-generation biofuel produced from microalgae is a viable solution to global energy insecurity and climate change. Despite an annual current global algal biomass production of 38 million litres, commercialization confronts significant economic challenges. However, cost minimization strategies, p...
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doaj-8e84fb5f457a447b964af6f5cb85757b2021-09-07T05:54:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2021-09-01910.3389/fenrg.2021.749968749968Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From MicroalgaeNazifa Rafa0Shams Forruque Ahmed1Irfan Anjum Badruddin2M. Mofijur3M. Mofijur4Sarfaraz Kamangar5Environmental Sciences Program, Asian University for Women, Chattogram, BangladeshScience and Math Program, Asian University for Women, Chattogram, BangladeshMechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaCentre for Green Technology, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaMechanical Engineering Department, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Al Khobar, Saudi ArabiaMechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi ArabiaThird-generation biofuel produced from microalgae is a viable solution to global energy insecurity and climate change. Despite an annual current global algal biomass production of 38 million litres, commercialization confronts significant economic challenges. However, cost minimization strategies, particularly for microalgae cultivation, have largely been excluded from recent studies. Therefore, this review provides essential insights into the technologies and economics of cost minimization strategies for large-scale applications. Cultivation of microalgae through aquafarming, in wastewater, or for biogas upgrading, and co-production of value-added products (VAPs) such as photo-bioreactors, protein, astaxanthin, and exopolysaccharides can drastically reduce biodiesel production costs. For instance, the co-production of photo-bioreactors and astaxanthin can reduce the cost of biodiesel production from $3.90 to $0.54 per litre. Though many technical challenges need to be addressed, the economic analysis reveals that incorporating such cost-effective strategies can make the biorefinery concept feasible and profitable. The cost of producing microalgal biodiesel can be lowered to $0.73kg−1 dry weight when cultivated in wastewater or $0.54L−1 when co-produced with VAPs. Most importantly, access to co-product markets with higher VAPs needs to be encouraged as the global market for microalgae-based VAPs is estimated to rise to $53.43 billion in 2026. Therefore, policies that incentivize research and development, as well as the production and consumption of microalgae-based biodiesel, are important to reduce the large gap in production cost that persists between biodiesel and petroleum diesel.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.749968/fullmicroalgaebiodiesel productionvalue-added productsbiogas upgradingwastewatereconomic analysis |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nazifa Rafa Shams Forruque Ahmed Irfan Anjum Badruddin M. Mofijur M. Mofijur Sarfaraz Kamangar |
spellingShingle |
Nazifa Rafa Shams Forruque Ahmed Irfan Anjum Badruddin M. Mofijur M. Mofijur Sarfaraz Kamangar Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae Frontiers in Energy Research microalgae biodiesel production value-added products biogas upgrading wastewater economic analysis |
author_facet |
Nazifa Rafa Shams Forruque Ahmed Irfan Anjum Badruddin M. Mofijur M. Mofijur Sarfaraz Kamangar |
author_sort |
Nazifa Rafa |
title |
Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae |
title_short |
Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae |
title_full |
Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae |
title_fullStr |
Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae |
title_full_unstemmed |
Strategies to Produce Cost-Effective Third-Generation Biofuel From Microalgae |
title_sort |
strategies to produce cost-effective third-generation biofuel from microalgae |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Energy Research |
issn |
2296-598X |
publishDate |
2021-09-01 |
description |
Third-generation biofuel produced from microalgae is a viable solution to global energy insecurity and climate change. Despite an annual current global algal biomass production of 38 million litres, commercialization confronts significant economic challenges. However, cost minimization strategies, particularly for microalgae cultivation, have largely been excluded from recent studies. Therefore, this review provides essential insights into the technologies and economics of cost minimization strategies for large-scale applications. Cultivation of microalgae through aquafarming, in wastewater, or for biogas upgrading, and co-production of value-added products (VAPs) such as photo-bioreactors, protein, astaxanthin, and exopolysaccharides can drastically reduce biodiesel production costs. For instance, the co-production of photo-bioreactors and astaxanthin can reduce the cost of biodiesel production from $3.90 to $0.54 per litre. Though many technical challenges need to be addressed, the economic analysis reveals that incorporating such cost-effective strategies can make the biorefinery concept feasible and profitable. The cost of producing microalgal biodiesel can be lowered to $0.73kg−1 dry weight when cultivated in wastewater or $0.54L−1 when co-produced with VAPs. Most importantly, access to co-product markets with higher VAPs needs to be encouraged as the global market for microalgae-based VAPs is estimated to rise to $53.43 billion in 2026. Therefore, policies that incentivize research and development, as well as the production and consumption of microalgae-based biodiesel, are important to reduce the large gap in production cost that persists between biodiesel and petroleum diesel. |
topic |
microalgae biodiesel production value-added products biogas upgrading wastewater economic analysis |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.749968/full |
work_keys_str_mv |
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