New perspectives on algae-based energy research

Abstract

Microalgae are among the most sustainable feedstocks for biofuels because they produce more oil than land plants and their production does not compete with existing food production. Moreover, seawater is readily available for use by marine algal species. Worldwide, research and demonstration programs are being performed to develop the technology needed to expand algal biomass production from a craft to a major industrial process. Native algal community polycultures are efficient at nutrient utilization owing to niche complementation, and they therefore offer higher biomass productivity than monocultures. Whole-algal hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is ideal for complex communities of algae, as it avoids the potential need to separate algal strains and species. The combination of polyculture and HTL technologies is a key R & D issue for cost-effective production of algae fuels.