2.3.10. Algal production cost
Estimates of the algal production cost range from US$ 4 to 300 per kg dry biomass (Table
2.11.). Algal production in outdoor ponds is relatively cheap, but is only suitable for a few,
fast-growing species and is characterized by a poor batch-to-batch consistency and unpredictable
culture crashes due to contaminations and/or fluctuating climatological
conditions. Indoor algal production offers a better control of the culture conditions and the
algal species being grown, but is more expensive than outdoor culture due to space, energy,
and skilled labour requirements.
An international survey among the operators of bivalve hatcheries showed that only facilities
capable of producing mass quantities of specific micro-algae are able to attain production
costs below US$ 100 per kg of dry weight (Fig. 2.13.).