Biodiesel Production from Microalgal Systems: A Resource Based Feasibility and GHG Assessment

1. 7th International Scientific Conference on Energy and Climate Change 8-10 October 2014 Biodiesel Production from Microalgal Systems: A Resource Based Feasibility and GHG Assessment Athens, October 9th 2014 L. Karaoglanoglou 1*, S. Damilos1, D. Koullas1, I. Tzovenis2, E. Koukios1 1 National Technical University of Athens 2 National & Kapodistrian University of Athens

2. MED ALGAE Project 12/2011-12/2014

3. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel: A promising sustainable future?

4. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel: A promising sustainable future?

5. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel What is algae? Algae range from small, single-celled organisms to multicellular organisms, some with fairly complex and differentiated forms. It is estimated that there are 800.000 algae species, 35.000 of which have been studied.

6. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel What is algae? Algae range from small, single-celled organisms to multicellular organisms, some with fairly complex and differentiated forms. It is estimated that there are 800.000 algae species, 35.000 of which have been studied. Why microalgae are considered as a promising biodiesel production feedstock? Algae are among the fastest growing plants in the world, and about 50% of their weigh is oil. (A. Demirbas&M.F. Demirbas; Green Energy and Technology-Algae as a new source of biodiesel; Springer; 2010)

7. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel What is algae? Algae range from small, single-celled organisms to multicellular organisms, some with fairly complex and differentiated forms. It is estimated that there are 800.000 algae species, 35.000 of which have been studied. Why microalgae are considered as a promising biodiesel production feedstock? Algae are among the fastest growing plants in the world, and about 50% of their weigh is oil. (A. Demirbas&M.F. Demirbas; Green Energy and Technology-Algae as a new source of biodiesel; Springer; 2010) Is microalgae cultivation (“domestication”) a new concept/technology? Microalgae are cultivated as feed for fish farms, or high nutrient content nutraceuticals; i.e. spirulina; and there is a large experience on the relevant technology. The drawback is the high production cost which in case of high value added, end-products is not considered as crucial.

8. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel Is microalgae cultivation (“domestication”) for biodiesel a new concept/technology? Relevant pilot scale cultivation experiments took place since ‘70s. However, the high production cost and energy intensive processes on the one hand, and difficulties in achieving system stabilities, as well as the expected yield and lipid contents when large scale production is concerned, on the other, did not lead to bulk algae biodiesel production.

9. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel Is microalgae cultivation (“domestication”) for biodiesel a new concept/technology? Relevant pilot scale cultivation experiments took place in ‘70s. However, the high production cost and energy intensive processes on the one hand, and difficulties in achieving system stabilities, as well as the expected yield and lipid contents when large scale production is concerned, on the other, did not lead to bulk algae biodiesel production. Current research on microalgae biodiesel production: Exponential increase during the last 6-7 years!!! Scientometric analysis Search words: Microalgae & biodiesel (search in www.sciencedirect.com)

10. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel Why such an intensive research effort for microalgae biodiesel? • Failure of first generation biofuels to deal with food vs fuel competition • No need for agricultural land use • No need for fresh water • Potential Additional environmental benefits • Potential important co-products • EU biofuel regulatory framework favoring the microalgae biodiesel technology

11. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel Why such an intensive research effort for microalgae biodiesel? • Failure of first generation biofuels to deal with food vs fuel competition • No need for agricultural land use • No need for fresh water • Potential additional environmental benefits (CO2, N, P fixation) • Potential important co-products JRC, Science and Policy Reports; EU renewable energy targets in 2020: Revised analysis of scenarios for transport fuels; Report EUR 26581 EN, 2014

12. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel Why such an intensive research effort for microalgae biodiesel? • Failure of first generation biofuels to deal with food vs fuel competition • No need for agricultural land use • No need for fresh water • Potential Additional environmental benefits • Potential important co-products Microalgae biodiesel easily fulfilling the 3 criteria JRC, Science and Policy Reports; EU renewable energy targets in 2020: Revised analysis of scenarios for transport fuels; Report EUR 26581 EN, 2014

13. Background and IntroductionMicroalgae biodiesel Why such an intensive research effort for microalgae biodiesel? • Failure of first generation biofuels to deal with food vs fuel competition • No need for agricultural land use • No need for fresh water • Potential Additional environmental benefits • Potential important co-products ? JRC, Science and Policy Reports; EU renewable energy targets in 2020: Revised analysis of scenarios for transport fuels; Report EUR 26581 EN, 2014

14. Methodology & Approach • Application of two LCA based GHG emission assessment tools for biofuels; BIOGRACE and ARGONNE GREET; their adaptation, comparison and efficiency assessment of their utilization for the under study systems; • Identification of the crucial design parameters, of algal biodiesel production systems, and the uncertainties due to the lack of data from large scale production; • Compared results of GHG emission of the studied scenarios with those of fossil fuel and other biofuel production systems, as they are given from recent EU studies; • Identification of the gap between the current state of the art and the GHG emission based sustainability threshold and the improvement prospects.

15. Methodology & ApproachGHG assessment tools WHAT is BIOGRACE GHG TOOL and WHY to use it? The project BioGrace aims to harmonise calculations of biofuelgreenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and thus supports the implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) and the EU Fuel Quality Directive (2009/30/EC) into national laws. The BioGrace greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation tool has been recognised as a voluntary scheme by the European Commission. It is in line with the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and (equal to the Fuel Quality Directive). The recognition is based on RED Article 18 (4-6) and refers to proving compliance of RED Article 17 (2) and RED Annex V on GHG emission saving. When a supplier uses an approved voluntary scheme to demonstrate the sustainability of biofuels, a Member State should not require the supplier to provide further evidence of compliance with the sustainability criteria.

16. Methodology & ApproachGHG assessment tools BIOGRACE Tool: Existing biofuel production pathways In the current database of the tool the algae-to-biofuel pathway does not exist, so its application will require the development of a new pathway adapted to the chain specifications.

17. Methodology & ApproachGHG assessment tools ARGON GREET LCA MODEL (By US Department of Energy) The combined APD-GREET system facilitates clear, consistent, shared analysis of algal biofuel production among government, industry, academia, and other stakeholders. These tools improve the speed and efficacy of algal fuel development and enable comparison of algal biofuels with other transportation fuels (including other biofuels). Jointly, APD and GREET cover all five life-cycle stages: 1. Feedstock cultivation; 2. Feedstock transport; 3. Biofuel production; 4. Biofuel transport; and 5. Biofuel end use in vehicles. Algae process description (APD): A separate spreadsheet (linked to GREET) known as the algae process description (APD) with detailed assumptions of the key stages of the algae pathways.

18. MethodologyDefining system complexity

19. MethodologyDefining system complexity

20. MethodologyDefining system complexity

21. MethodologyDefining system complexity

22. MethodologySystem boundaries: Base case scenario

23. MethodologySystem boundaries: Base case scenario

24. MethodologySystem boundaries: Base case scenario & sensitivity analysis

25. Results and DiscussionSite selectionCO2 fixation potential = power plant existence as an initial decision making criteria

26. Results and DiscussionSite selectionCO2 fixation potential = power plant existence as an initial decision making criteria

27. Results and DiscussionSite selection www.carma.org

28. Results and DiscussionSite selection www.carma.org • Additional selection criteria • Diesel power plant • (no need for S removal) • Waste water plant as potential nutrient provider • Climate conditions • Irradiation • Temperature • An isolated system: potential use in both stationary and transportation applications • Synergies with other renewables; i.e. wind farms

29. Results and DiscussionSystem outputs

30. Results and DiscussionComparison with other biodiesel production pathways GHG emission Net Energy Ratio

31. Results and DiscussionComparison with other diesel production pathways Net Energy Ratio= Input/Output GHG emission Waste cooking oil Sunflower Palm Rapeseed Soya

32. Results and DiscussionSensitivity analysis Energy mix Lipids (%) Harvesting tech. Algae output

33. Conclusions 1/2 • Algae cultivation can be considered as an option attracting the attention of energy intensive industries for CO2 sequestration, only where the land availability is not a limiting factor; i.e. dessert land, off-shore applications etc.; • The system GHG emissions are much higher than the ones of competing alternative biofuel production technologies. However, the utilization of non agricultural land, and seawater, can lead to benefits, under the condition that the economic feasibility of the system is also ensured. • Net Energy Ratio (NER) results: An important gap to cover for making the whole system energy-wise sustainable. Two complementary directions: reduction of the system energy needs through process optimisation and increase of the share of renewable energies in the energy spent for the system operation. • The most energy intensive process steps are the algae culture and harvesting. In both steps large amounts of water are handled. The results would have been even worse if heating and cooling processes were used for the ORP system. Increase in the yield or lipid content can improve significantly the efficiency of the system performance.

34. Conclusions 2/2 • Current state of the art is quite far from the feasibility and sustainability threshold. The gap can be bridged with coordinated technology and system optimisation efforts in the direction of: • productivity improvements in commercial scale; • plant location optimisation; • process energy need optimisation; • process material input optimisation; • process output optimisation through a biorefinery approach of fractionation and multiple customised product output; • integration of the services offered by the system into the overall outputs; i.e. environmental services through the use of nitrogen and phosphorus outputs of waste water treatment plants

35. Future Work American University of Beirut (Lebanon) Agricultural Research Institute (Cyprus) • Data collection from pilot scale experiments from 5 project regions • Production scenarios development • GHG and feasibility studies based on these data

36. What to take home with you…Microalgae biodiesel: A promising sustainable future? effluents

37. What to take home with you…Microalgae biodiesel: A promising sustainable future? Yes, but a long way to go!!! and only as part of an integrated multiproduct – multiservice system!!! effluents

38. Thank you for your attention! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the project by ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme. The present work is part of the Diploma Thesis of S.P. Damilos, carried out in NTUA Postgraduate course, “Energy Production and Management”, presented in October 2014.