Ideally, microalgal biodiesel would be carbon neutral,
as all the power needed for producing and processing the
algae would come from biodiesel itself and from
methane produced by anaerobic digestion of biomass
residue left behind after the oils has been extracted.
Although microalgal biodiesel can be carbon neutral, it
will not result in any net reduction in carbon dioxide that
is accumulating as a consequence of burning of fossil
fuels.