High Speed Public Policy For Algae Based Biofuel As An Energy Alternative

This paper will explore whether algae-based biofuel is a viable alternative energy option and how the proposed federal tax incentive and other governmental programs could help propel this unique technology to become a more sustainable energy option. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the problem of developing technologies in the algae-based biofuel industry. No current regulation exists specifically with respect to algae-based biofuel as it falls into the broad category of cellulosic biofuels. This paper suggests public policy imperatives in Florida in concert with the proposed algae-based biofuel tax credit to address the economic issue of having this renewable energy alternative become sustainable and less cost-prohibitive to encourage larger scale usage.

Biofuels made from algae are gaining attention as a domestic source of renewable fuel. However, with current technologies, scaling up production of algal biofuels to meet even 5 percent of U.S. transportation fuel needs could create unsustainable demands for energy, water, and nutrient resources. Continued research and development could yield innovations to address these challenges, but determining if algal biofuel is a viable fuel alternative will involve comparing the environmental, economic and social impacts of algal biofuel production and use to those associated with petroleum-based fuels and other fuel sources. Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels was produced at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy.

This book presents the dynamic role of algae in a sustainable environment. Two major aspects, namely bioenergy and bioremediation, have been elaborated in various chapter contributed by scientists and teachers from different geographical areas throughout the world. Algal biofuels is an emerging area of equal interest to researchers, industries, and policy makers working or focusing on alternative (i.e. renewable) fuels. Algae have been an area of interest due to their wide range of applications. Over the last 5 decades, eukaryotic algae have been used in the aquaculture industry as feed for invertebrates, providing a rich source of antioxidants, dietary fiber, minerals and protein. More recently, there has been a focus on the use of algal biomass in the development of alternative fuels. The extraction of oil from algae has been widely explored as a much more viable feedstock than plant-based oils in large-scale fuel production. using algae as feedstock has the advantages that it doesn’t require arable land and that wastewater can be used as a source of nutrients in their culture. The multifunctional approach of algae includes pollution remediation, carbon sequestration, biofuels production, and delivery of value-added products. However, there are still some obstacles that need to be overcome to make their use as potential feedstock for biofuels techno-economically feasible. In order to maintain the sustainability aspect of algal biofuels, various aspects have to be studied and critically analyzed to assess the long-term sustainability of algal derived biofuels. This book discusses the role of algae as a promising future feedstock for biofuels. They are known to sequester carbon in much larger amounts than plants and as such the book also describes their phycoremediation potential for conventional as well as emerging contaminants. It describes the role of anaerobic digestion in algal biorefineries; bioreactions and process parameters; biogas recovery and reuse. The role of algal biofilm based technology in wastewater treatment and transforming waste into bio-products is discussed, and remediation of sewage water through algae is assessed. The book also describes the production of biohydrogen, bio-oil, biodiesel; and the major bottlenecks in their usage. The emerging characterization techniques of these biofuels (bio-oil and biodiesel) are described, as are the decolorizing potential of algae and the genetic engineering techniques that could enhance the production of lipids in algae. Other aspects of the book include the role of remote sensing technology in the monitoring of algae and a life cycle assessment of algal biofuels.

Algae biofuel is a new green energy technology. Learn about how this energy technology developed, the risks and rewards of algae biofuel, and whether or not these tiny plants will solve the energy challenges of the future.

Algal biomass is a fast-growing, renewable resource and a promising feedstock for advanced biofuels. Algal biofuels are generating considerable interest around the world. In the United States, they represent promising pathways for helping to meet the biofuel production targets set by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Algae are a diverse group of primarily aquatic organisms that are capable of using photosynthesis to generate biomass. Some algal strains are able to double their mass several times per day. In some cases, more than half of that mass consists of lipids or tricylglycerides. These bio-oils can be used to produce drop-in replacements for diesel, gasoline, and aviation fuels. Some algae accumulate carbohydrates (including starch), which can also be used to form intermediates for processing into biofuels. Proteins from the residual biomass could provide supplemental feed for livestock and aquaculture operations. Advantages of Algal Feedstocks * A History of Domestic Algal Biofuels Development * Early Work to 1996 * Research from 1996 to Present * Algae-to-Biofuels: Opportunity and Challenges Today * Technology and Analysis Challenges * Regulations and Standards * Public-Private Partnerships * References * Algal Biology * Strain Isolation, Screening and Selection * Isolation and Characterization of Naturally Occurring Algae * Role of Culture Collections as National Algae Data Resource Centers * Selecting Algal Model Systems for Study * Algal Physiology and Biochemistry * Photosynthesis and Light Utilization * Carbon Partitioning and Metabolism * Algal Carbohydrates * Lipid Synthesis and Regulation. * Biohydrogen * Algal Biotechnology * The Genetic Toolbox * Enabling Technologies: "Omics" Approaches and Bioinformatics * Applications of Biotechnology to Algal Bioenergy * Considerations of Genetic Modifications * References * Algal Cultivation * Cultivation Pathways * Microalgae and Cyanobacteria * Macroalgae * Scale-Up Challenges * Stability of Large-Scale Cultures * System Productivity * Nutrient Sources, Sustainability, and Management * Water Management, Conservation, and Recycling * Downstream Processing: Harvesting and Dewatering * Approaches for Microalgae * Harvesting * Drying * Approaches for Macroalgae * Harvesting * Preprocessing * Systems Engineering * References * Preliminary Look at Energy Balance * Extraction of Products from Algae * Current Practices for Lipid Extraction * Mechanical Disruption (i.e., Cell Rupture) * Organic Co-solvent Mixtures * Accelerated Solvent Extraction * Selective Extraction * Subcritical Water Extraction * Supercritical Fluid Extraction * Heterotrophic Production * Challenges * References * Algal Biofuel Conversion Technologies * Direct Production of Biofuels from Algae * Alcohols Alkanes\ * Hydrogen * Processing of Whole Algae * Pyrolysis * Gasification * Liquefaction * Supercritical Processing * Anaerobic Digestion of Whole Algae * Conversion of Algal Extracts * Chemical Transesterification * Biochemical (Enzymatic) Conversion. * Catalytic Cracking * Conversion to Renewable Diesel, Gasoline, and Jet Fuel * Processing of Algal Remnants after Extraction * References * Co-products * Commercial Products from Microalgae and Cyanobacteria * Commercial Products from Macroalgae * Potential Options for the Recovery of Co-products * References * Distribution and Utilization * Distribution * Utilization * Algal Blendstocks to Replace Middle-Distillate Petroleum Products * Algal Blendstocks for Alcohol and Gasoline-Range Petroleum Products * References * Resources and Siting * Resource Requirements for Different Cultivation Approaches * Photoautotrophic Microalgae Approach * Heterotrophic Microalgae Approach * Photoautotrophic Macroalgae Approach * Resources Overview * Climate * Water * Carbon Dioxide * Land * Integration with Water Treatment Facilities * Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Applications * Algae Production Techniques for Wastewater Treatment Plants

Extensive effort is being made globally to develop various biofuels as an inexhaustible and renewable energy source. Biofuels are viewed as promising alternatives to conventional fossil fuels because they have the potential to eliminate major environmental problems such as global warming and climate change created by fossil fuels. Among the still-developing biofuel technologies, biodiesel production from algae offers a good prospect for large-scale practical use, considering the fact that algae are capable of producing much more yield than other biofuels such as corn and soybean crops. Although research on algae-based biofuel is still in its developing stage, extensive work on laboratory- and pilot-scale algae-harvesting systems with promising prospects has been reported. This chapter presents a discussion of the literature review of recent advances in algal biomass harvesting. The chapter focuses on stability and separability of algae and algae-harvesting methods. Challenges and prospects of algae harvesting are also outlined. The review aims to provide useful information for future development of efficient and commercially viable algal biodiesel production.

Liquid fuels are widely used in cars, trucks, ships and planes. They are mainly made from petroleum oil and this is causing planet-wide environmental, social and geopolitical problems. There are numerous types of biofuels, fuels made from biological sources, such as canola, palm oil and tallow. However, biofuels have their own problems including the relatively small volumes that are available, the environmental cost of producing them, and the fact that many biofuels compete with human food. A potential solution to replace petroleum oil is algae biofuels: fuels made from oil from algae. Algae are tiny aquatic plants and they promise low cost, environmentally friendly, carbon neutral fuels produced on an industrial-scale. Around the world, dozens of companies are developing the technologies to make this a reality. There are notable successes and algae biofuels are today powering navy ships, airliners, trucks and cars. Big challenges remain, particularly reducing the cost of the end product and massively scaling up production without causing new environmental problems. However, with petroleum oil causing more trouble than it’s worth – including, ironically, the fact that it’s running out – algae biofuels promise to be the big green solution that saves the day and maybe the climate too.

This volume discusses how plant and algae organisms play a pivotal role in the transformation of solar energy to essential metabolites, and explores the numerous beneficial roles these metabolites have at an industrial level. It presents information on the utilization of plant and algae for biomass production, and shows how this is a practical option for large scale biofuel production. The book examines how these bio-metabolites can then be used to extract biofuel. Biomass produced from plants and algae can act as the source of feedstock for biofuel production and industrially important compounds. This book also explores that by curtailing culturing cost using wastewater, seawater, and industrial water as a nutrient and water source, biomass becomes an economical energy source. The introductory chapters of the book focus on the appreciative values of a pollution-free atmosphere, with special reference to enhanced greenhouse effect, and then are followed by chapters on the potential of plant and algae as a liquid energy resource. This book targets researchers, graduate students, and energy and fuel industry professionals interested in the plant sciences, biotechnology and renewable energy.

Biomass, Biofuels and Biochemicals: Biofuels from Algae, Second Edition provides information on strategies for commercial microalgae based biofuel production, including their cultivation, pre-treatment and conversion methods. The book discusses methods for producing microalgal biomass in large scale by outdoor culturing and outlines new technologies for their use. In addition, it explains how modern genetic engineering enables the generation of recombinant strains that generate higher quantities of feedstock. The complete utilization of microalgal biomass, which can also be obtained from valorizing nutrients from wastewater and industrial exhaust gases, can be efficiently converted to energy rich biofuels and high value pharmaceuticals in a well-defined biorefinery. Includes the current technologies for the cultivation and conversion of energy rich microalgal biomass into biofuels Provides information on all the conversion methods – biochemical and thermochemical conversions Covers other high value products from microalgae and less conventional applications, such as fine chemical production and aviation fuel generation Discusses the economics of microalgal biofuel production and how to accomplish cost competitive results

Algal Biofuel: Sustainable Solution primarily focuses on the different aspects of bioenergy production using algal biomass as microalgae are considered the optimum feedstock for bioenergy production. The major aim is to thoroughly review the available bioenergy options, challenges in bioenergy production, availability of bioenergy feedstock, and biomass to bioenergy conversion process. This book also highlights the feasibility of lignocellulosic biomass, crop residues, and non-edible oil seeds for generation of different bioenergy products. It will be helpful for researchers and other stakeholders working in the area of bioenergy production for development of innovative concepts in emerging areas of bioenergy. Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan).