An economic and technical evaluation of microalgal biofuels

Stephens, Evan, Ross, Ian L., King, Zachary, Mussgnug, Jan H., Kruse, Olaf, Posten, Clemens, Borowitzka, Michael A. and Hankamer, Ben (2010) An economic and technical evaluation of microalgal biofuels. Nature Biotechnology, 28 2: 126-128.


Author Stephens, Evan
Ross, Ian L.
King, Zachary
Mussgnug, Jan H.
Kruse, Olaf
Posten, Clemens
Borowitzka, Michael A.
Hankamer, Ben
Title An economic and technical evaluation of microalgal biofuels
Journal name Nature Biotechnology  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank A*)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2010-02
Sub-type Letter
DOI 10.1038/nbt0210-126
Volume number 28
Issue number 2
ISSN 1087-0156; 1546-1696
Start page 126
End page 128
Total pages 3
Editor Andrew Marshall
Place of publication New York, NY, U.S.A.
Publisher Nature Pubublishing Group
Language eng
Subject 090201 Automotive Combustion and Fuel Engineering (incl. Alternative/Renewable Fuels)
090405 Non-automotive Combustion and Fuel Engineering (incl. Alternative/Renewable Fuels)
Formatted abstract In her News Feature “Biotech’s green gold”, Emily Waltz details the ‘hype’ being propagated around emerging microalgal biofuel technologies, which often exceeds the physical and thermodynamic constraints that ultimately define their economic viability. Our calculations counter such excessive claims and demonstrate that 22 MJ m−2 d−1 solar radiation supports practical yield maxima of ∼60 to 100 kl oil ha−1 y−1 (∼6,600 to 10,800 gal ac−1 y−1) and an absolute theoretical ceiling of ∼94 to 155 kl oil ha−1 y−1, assuming a maximum photosynthetic conversion efficiency of 10%.
Keyword Green gold
Microalgal
Biofuel technologies
Q-Index Code CX
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

 
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Created: Sun, 21 Feb 2010, 00:02:41 EST