Biofuels from microalgae: Towards meeting advanced fuel standards

Abstract

Continued reliance on fossil fuel reserves as the primary energy resource is increasingly becoming unsustainable, owing to the need for: minimal exposure to the associate price volatility, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by energy conservation, and deployment of cleaner and locally produced energy feedstock (including recovery from waste). Based on current knowledge and technology projections, third-generation biofuels (low input-high yielding feedstock) specifically derived from microalgae are considered to be viable alternative energy resource. They are devoid of the major drawbacks associated with first-generation biofuels (mainly terrestrial crops, e.g. sugarcane, sugar beet, maize and rapeseed) and second-generation biofuels (derived from lignocellulosic energy crops and agricultural and forest biomass residues). This chapter focuses on technologies underpinning microalgae-to-biofuels production systems, and evaluates the scale-up and commercial potential of biofuel production, including benchmarking of fuel standards. It articulates the importance of integrating biofuels production with the production of high-value biomass fractions in a biorefinery concept. It also addresses sustainability of resource deployment through the synergistic coupling of microalgae propagation techniques with CO2 sequestration and bioremediation of wastewater treatment potential for mitigation of environmental impacts associated with energy conversion and utilisation.