Microalgae as a biofuel feedstock: risks and challenges

1. Trends and future of sustainable development Microalgae as a biofuel feedstock: risks and challenges Presentation By: Liandong Zhu

2. Introduction Purpose and perspective Potential risks and challenges Conclusions Recommendations Contents

3. Introduction • Energy crisis • Based on the current consumption of about 11.6 million tons of crude oil per day, it is expected that the entire resources can only suffice for a rather short time period; • UK Energy Research Centre even concluded that oil resources will be used up between 2020 and 2030 • New oil and gas reserves are always discovered • Global warming and global climate changes • The use of oil can cause the risks of the rise of greenhouse effect, which can result in all kinds of disasters to our planet Earth and its inhabitants

4. Introduction Microalgae have overwhelmingly received a lot of attention as a new biomass source for the production • High photosynthesis efficiency and can grow very fast; • Without occupying farmlands; • Can be supplied by saline and brackish water, seawater, wastewater, and other salt water like saline groundwater and CO2 by combustion gas; • Can be collected very quickly; • Uniform cell structure with no bark, stems, branches • or leaves; • Physical and fuel properties of biofuel (e.g. density, heating value, etc.) are comparable to those of fuel diesel.

5. Introduction Where can we get algae?

6. Introduction Where can we get algae?

7. Introduction Products: biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, biogas

8. Purpose and perspective • Microalgae-based biofuel (MBB) industry is booming. But there is limited and fragmented published information available on the environmental, social, cultural and economic dimensions involved with potential sustainable risks. • From sustainability perspective, this paper explores the potential risks and challenges connected with the production of MBB, systematically. • Afterwards, some corresponding recommendations about government policies, company behaviors and public participation are put forward in order to minimize the potential risks to the permitted levels.

9. Potential risks and challenges-Environmental • Water • Water resource abuse; • Without feasible water usage planning (recycling) • Damage to waterways; • Systems discharge (toxicants): chemical additives, • flocculants, solvents, and catalysts • Groundwater may not be recharged effectively • Waterproof surface

10. Potential risks and challenges-Environmental • Land • Land use overexpansion; • Amount of space is required; Over-pursue • commercial profits cause an indirect land use • Earth pollution, and soil erosion • Discharge pollution; Heavy rain or flood might lead to • high biomass overflow; Pipelines construction • involves the removal of plenty of rocks and earth

11. Potential risks and challenges-Environmental • Biodiversity • Eutrophication; • Downstream discharge leads to nutrient imbalance • Algal blooms and fish kills; • Caused by eutrophication • Biological invasion • Downstream carries non-harvested microalgae cells

12. Potential risks and challenges-Environmental • Greenhouse gas • Greenhouse gases (e.g. NOx, CH4) emissions • Appearance of anaerobic zone under water surface • and biomass death can bring about the emission of • CH4, N2O, etc.

13. Potential risks and challenges-Economic • Start-up is expensive (overwhelming investments); • Capital costs occupy about 50% of the total costs • Loss of jobs • Development of increased automation

14. Potential risks and challenges-Social • Jeopardize the health of local wildlife and people; • Pollution • Diseases (e.g. yellow fever, malaria) spread • Microalgae may provide some habitats for laying • and hatching of mosquito eggs and larvae

15. Potential risks and challenges-Cultural • –Difficult for people to adapt to • Traditionally used to produce cosmetics and food; • Microalgae biomass is a very new biofuel type

16. Conclusions

17. Recommendations • Efficient government policies • e.g., roles and responsibilities within government agencies must be clarified; contracts of environmental impact statements must be reinforced; regulatory industry roadmap must be developed; propaganda activities…… • Proactive company behaviors • e.g., water and land use planning should be carried out in an environmental friendly manner; assessment of potential risks should be conducted prior to facilities introduction; require transparency of process inputs and outputs….. • Positive public participation • Public perception, sense and participation

18. Thank you for your attention!