The underlying elements that prevent
a general analysis of such impacts are primarily attributed to the
following: (i) wide ranges of reported algae oil content and annual
productivity, (ii) lack of a proven technology for the extraction of
oil from wet algae feedstocks or for solar drying of dilute algae
slurries, (iii) lack of information about the conversion of oil-extracted
algae in biological and thermochemical processes alike,
(iv) lack of practical information regarding the extent to which
nutrients can be supplied from wastewater or from a recycle
stream within the biorefinery, and (v) the inherent differences due to carbon and water sources, type of land, solar irradiance, and
plant location and size.