Abstract Interest in algae as a feedstock for biofuel
production has risen in recent years, due to projections that
algae can produce lipids (oil) at a rate significantly higher
than agriculture-based feedstocks. Current research and
development of enclosed photobioreactors for commercialscale
algal oil production is directed towards pushing the
upper limit of productivity beyond that of open ponds. So far,
most of this development is in a prototype stage, so workingproduction metrics for a commercial-scale algal biofuel
system are still unknown, and projections are largely based
on small-scale experimental data. Given this research climate,
a methodical analysis of a maximum algal oil production rate
from a theoretical perspective will be useful to the emerging
industry for understanding the upper limits that will bound the
production capabilities of new designs. This paper presents a
theoretical approach to calculating an absolute upper limit to
algal production based on physical laws and assumptions of
perfect efficiencies. In addition, it presents a best case
approach that represents an optimistic target for production
based on realistic efficiencies and is calculated for six global
sites. The theoretical maximum was found to be
354,000 L·ha−1
·year−1 (38,000 gal·ac−1
·year−1
) of unrefined
oil, while the best cases examined in this report range from
40,700–53,200 L·ha−1
·year−1 (4,350–5,700 gal·ac−1
·year−1
)
of unrefined oil.
Abstract Interest in algae as a feedstock for biofuelproduction has risen in recent years, due to projections thatalgae can produce lipids (oil) at a rate significantly higherthan agriculture-based feedstocks. Current research anddevelopment of enclosed photobioreactors for commercialscalealgal oil production is directed towards pushing theupper limit of productivity beyond that of open ponds. So far,most of this development is in a prototype stage, so workingproduction metrics for a commercial-scale algal biofuelsystem are still unknown, and projections are largely basedon small-scale experimental data. Given this research climate,a methodical analysis of a maximum algal oil production ratefrom a theoretical perspective will be useful to the emergingindustry for understanding the upper limits that will bound theproduction capabilities of new designs. This paper presents atheoretical approach to calculating an absolute upper limit toalgal production based on physical laws and assumptions ofperfect efficiencies. In addition, it presents a best caseapproach that represents an optimistic target for productionbased on realistic efficiencies and is calculated for six globalsites. The theoretical maximum was found to be354,000 L·ha−1·year−1 (38,000 gal·ac−1·year−1) of unrefinedoil, while the best cases examined in this report range from40,700–53,200 L·ha−1·year−1 (4,350–5,700 gal·ac−1·year−1)of unrefined oil.
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