Journal
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
Volume 101, Issue 4, Pages 1406-1413Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.09.038
Keywords
Photobioreactors; Oil production; Microalgae; Life-cycle analysis; Energy
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An analysis of the energy life-cycle for production of biomass using the oil-rich microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. was performed, which included both raceway ponds, tubular and flat-plate photobioreactors for algal cultivation. The net energy ratio (NER) for each process was calculated. The results showed that the use of horizontal tubular photobioreactors (PBRs) is not economically feasible ([NER] < 1) and that the estimated NERs for flat-plate PBRs and raceway ponds is >1. The NER for ponds and flat-plate PBRs could be raised to significantly higher values if the lipid content of the biomass were increased to 60% dw/cwd. Although neither system is currently competitive with petroleum, the threshold oil cost at which this would occur was also estimated. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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