Microalgal production--a close look at the economics.
Worldwide, microalgal biofuel production is being investigated. It is strongly debated which type of production technology is the most adequate. Microalgal biomass production costs were calculated for 3 different micro algal production systems operating at commercial scale today: open ponds, horizontal tubular photobioreactors and flat panel photobioreactors. For the 3 systems, resulting biomass production costs including dewatering, were 4.95, 4.15 and 5.96 € per kg, respectively. The important cost factors are irradiation conditions, mixing, photosynthetic efficiency of systems, medium- and carbon dioxide costs. Optimizing production with respect to these factors, a price of € 0.68 per kg resulted. At this cost level microalgae become a promising feedstock for biodiesel and bulk chemicals.


CONCLUSIONS
Photobioreactors may become attractive for microalgal biofuel production.
Norsker
Niels-Henrik
NH
Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. niels-henrik.norsker@wur.nl
Barbosa
Maria J
MJ
Vermuë
Marian H
MH
Wijffels
René H
RH
D000042:Absorption / Q000528:radiation effects; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D058086:Microalgae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009426:Netherlands; D058433:Photobioreactors / Q000382:microbiology