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A Review of Microalgal Biofuels, Challenges and Future Directions

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Application of Thermo-fluid Processes in Energy Systems

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Fossil fuels play an absolute dominant role in the global energy mix, followed by biofuels and other energy sources. Fossil fuel dependency is unsustainable due to its finite nature. Moreover, a large amount of greenhouse gas emission is generated by the use of fossil fuels. Biofuels from microalgae have the potential to provide a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy source, complementing the shortfall of fossil fuels and enhancing the mitigation of global warming. One of the notable advantages of biofuels from microalgae is that it does not pose any threat to human or animal food chain and its production can be achieved using barren land, salt water, wastewater and CO2 emitted by thermal power plants. Despite having enormous potential, current production, harvesting and processing techniques of microalgal biomass remain not cost-effective or widely used. Hence, further optimisation of microalgal mass culture, harvesting and processing techniques, and efficient utilisation of by-products are needed to make this carbon-neutral energy source economically viable and sustainable. Coupling microalgae cultivation with wastewater and CO2 from power plants is considered a promising route for the production of bioenergy and bio-based by-products. Significant challenges remain to be addressed to utilise the full potential of third-generation biofuel derived mainly from microalgal biomasses. This chapter presents a brief view of the current progress on microalgal biofuel production, its future directions and challenges.

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  1. School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Plenty Road, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia

    Saleh M A Mobin & Firoz Alam

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  1. Saleh M A Mobin
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Correspondence to Saleh M A Mobin .

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  1. School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

    M. Masud K. Khan

  2. School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Gladstone, Queensland, Australia

    Ashfaque Ahmed Chowdhury

  3. School of Engineering and Technology, Central Queensland University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

    Nur M. Sayeed Hassan

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Mobin, S.M.A., Alam, F. (2018). A Review of Microalgal Biofuels, Challenges and Future Directions. In: Khan, M., Chowdhury, A., Hassan, N. (eds) Application of Thermo-fluid Processes in Energy Systems. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0697-5_4

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