Benefits of Algae Biofuel Equal - if Not Better - Than First-Generation Biofuels

The environmental and energy benefits of algae-derived biofuel are equal if not better than first-generation biofuels, a paper published in the journal Bioresource Technology suggests.

The study is the first to analyze real-world data from an existing algae-to-energy demonstration scale farm. The results reveal that algae biofuel reduces life cycle carbon dioxide emissions by 50 to 70 percent compared to petroleum fuels -- all the while approaching a similar Energy Return on Investment (EROI).

"This study affirms that algae-based fuels provide results without compromise," Mary Rosenthal, the executive director of the Algae Biomass Organization, said in a statement. "With significant emissions reductions, a positive energy balance, nutrient recycling and CO2 reuse, algae-based fuels will be a long-term, sustainable source of fuels for our nation."

The report examined the life cycle of an algae cultivation and fuel production process currently used at pre-commercial scales. Included in the study were the field data from two facilities in New Mexico responsible for growing algae and processing it into oil using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). 

The results projected that commercial scale algae technologies will produce biofuels with even lower greenhouse gas emissions and than first-generation biofuels.

Furthermore, the researchers concluded that algae-based biofuels produced in a manner similar to the one studied will boast an EROI similar to petroleum and three times higher than cellulosic ethanol.

"These real-world data from demonstration scale facilities gave us new insight and allowed us to understand how scale will impact the benefits and costs of algae-to-energy deployment." said lead author Andres F. Clarens, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Virginia. "These results suggest that algae-based fuels made using HTL have an environmental profile that is comparable to conventional biofuels."