Results and discussion
The concepts outlined above will now be applied to biodiesel
production from algae in open raceway ponds. The target is production
of a lower heating value (LHV) equivalent to 50 million
gallons of petroleum diesel per year (0.006002 m3/s) or about
0.1% of the annual diesel demand in the US. The focus is to determine
if this can be reached in a rigorously or at least largely sustainable
manner by mass culture of algae.
A ceiling shall first be established for the maximum practical
specific (per pond surface area) photosynthetic biomass and oil
production of algae in an open pond. This can then be related to
the maximum biofuel production of a given facility while taking
in account all needs of the entire process such as thermal and electrical
energy, chemicals, and water. The open pond is chosen sincethis has been recognized as the approach likely to show the lowest
capital cost based on previous large-scale experience and development