Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations
Microalgal biomass can be used to derive many different types of biofuels. In order to widely commercialize this technology, its limitations and weaknesses must be eliminated. Many technical and economic issues also need to be clarified and unknowns answered. Microalgae-based technologies have been...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-12-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/81 |
| _version_ | 1797625991692025856 |
|---|---|
| author | Marcin Dębowski Izabela Świca Joanna Kazimierowicz Marcin Zieliński |
| author_facet | Marcin Dębowski Izabela Świca Joanna Kazimierowicz Marcin Zieliński |
| author_sort | Marcin Dębowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microalgal biomass can be used to derive many different types of biofuels. In order to widely commercialize this technology, its limitations and weaknesses must be eliminated. Many technical and economic issues also need to be clarified and unknowns answered. Microalgae-based technologies have been shown to be versatile, efficient and suitable for practical and commercial use. However, the current technological readiness level (TRL) of most microalgae-based bioenergy production systems precludes their quick and widespread implementation. Their development is limited by a combination of factors that must be precisely identified, after which their negative impact on scale-up prospects can be eliminated or minimized. The present study identifies the main barriers to the development of industrial microalgae-production and microalgae-to-biofuel systems. In addition, it proposes measures and efforts necessary to achieve a higher TRL, which will provide investors with sought-after performance and cost-efficiency data for the given project. The main barriers to the development of microalgae cultivation and processing systems have been identified to include: the complex nature of the cultivation process with multiple variables involved; lack of sufficient data from pilot-scale and near-full-scale plants, which often precludes reliable life cycle assessment (LCA); and insufficient legal assistance, advisory assistance, subsidies and funding for innovative projects. Potential ways of improving performance and competitiveness of microalgae-based systems include: process optimization techniques, genetic engineering, yield improvement through advanced process control and monitoring, use of waste as feedstock and dedicated support programs. The presented summary of the current stage of microalgal biofuel production technology development indicates the directions for further research and implementation work, which are necessary for the final verification of the application potential of these solutions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:04:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc5d818b021342c7a2b0eee1290ad2ea |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:04:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc5d818b021342c7a2b0eee1290ad2ea2023-11-16T15:14:15ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-12-011618110.3390/en16010081Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and LimitationsMarcin Dębowski0Izabela Świca1Joanna Kazimierowicz2Marcin Zieliński3Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Water Supply and Sewage Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, PolandDepartment of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, PolandMicroalgal biomass can be used to derive many different types of biofuels. In order to widely commercialize this technology, its limitations and weaknesses must be eliminated. Many technical and economic issues also need to be clarified and unknowns answered. Microalgae-based technologies have been shown to be versatile, efficient and suitable for practical and commercial use. However, the current technological readiness level (TRL) of most microalgae-based bioenergy production systems precludes their quick and widespread implementation. Their development is limited by a combination of factors that must be precisely identified, after which their negative impact on scale-up prospects can be eliminated or minimized. The present study identifies the main barriers to the development of industrial microalgae-production and microalgae-to-biofuel systems. In addition, it proposes measures and efforts necessary to achieve a higher TRL, which will provide investors with sought-after performance and cost-efficiency data for the given project. The main barriers to the development of microalgae cultivation and processing systems have been identified to include: the complex nature of the cultivation process with multiple variables involved; lack of sufficient data from pilot-scale and near-full-scale plants, which often precludes reliable life cycle assessment (LCA); and insufficient legal assistance, advisory assistance, subsidies and funding for innovative projects. Potential ways of improving performance and competitiveness of microalgae-based systems include: process optimization techniques, genetic engineering, yield improvement through advanced process control and monitoring, use of waste as feedstock and dedicated support programs. The presented summary of the current stage of microalgal biofuel production technology development indicates the directions for further research and implementation work, which are necessary for the final verification of the application potential of these solutions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/81microalgaebiofuelstechnology developmentlarge scaletechnological readiness level (TRL)life cycle assessment (LCA) |
| spellingShingle | Marcin Dębowski Izabela Świca Joanna Kazimierowicz Marcin Zieliński Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations Energies microalgae biofuels technology development large scale technological readiness level (TRL) life cycle assessment (LCA) |
| title | Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations |
| title_full | Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations |
| title_fullStr | Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations |
| title_short | Large Scale Microalgae Biofuel Technology—Development Perspectives in Light of the Barriers and Limitations |
| title_sort | large scale microalgae biofuel technology development perspectives in light of the barriers and limitations |
| topic | microalgae biofuels technology development large scale technological readiness level (TRL) life cycle assessment (LCA) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/1/81 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcindebowski largescalemicroalgaebiofueltechnologydevelopmentperspectivesinlightofthebarriersandlimitations AT izabelaswica largescalemicroalgaebiofueltechnologydevelopmentperspectivesinlightofthebarriersandlimitations AT joannakazimierowicz largescalemicroalgaebiofueltechnologydevelopmentperspectivesinlightofthebarriersandlimitations AT marcinzielinski largescalemicroalgaebiofueltechnologydevelopmentperspectivesinlightofthebarriersandlimitations |