2014). A major challenge for algae is capturing a major percentage of CO 2 emissions
from any given source. It is estimated that 2200 acres of algae cultivation area is
required to utilize the fully CO 2 emitted from the flue gas of a natural-gas-fired
power plant. Algae can only utilize total generated CO 2 during the photosynthetically active sunlight hours (Brune et al. 2009). Due to CO 2 off-gassing during
non-sunlight hours and the unavoidable losses of CO 2 during algae production,
CO 2 emissions offset will be limited to an estimated 20–30% of the total power
plant emissions. Recent work of Davis et al. (2016) suggests that major percentage
utilization of total emissions is possible through conducting primary CO 2 capture
with an absorber. The system could capture 80% from low-concentration sources
(flue gas with 4–4.5% CO 2 concentration) and 90% from higher-concentration
sources (coal). Thus the overall capture and use of the CO 2 is assumed as 70–80%.
1.6
Potential Environmental Effect During Production of Algal
Biofuel
Cultivation of microalgae as biological resource for the production of biofuel has
been a broad scope of research. Large-scale production of algal biofuel using
different resources has been shown to have both positive and negative impacts on
the environment (Hannon et al. 2010a, b). Limited studies that have been done so far
discussed the scale up of cultivation system and also environmental impacts that
could occur. This chapter includes the possible environmental impacts from algal
biofuel production. Potential effect of anthropogenic activity on land, water, and air
quality and also emission of greenhouse gas (GHG), biodiversity, effect of genetically engineered algae organisms, waste products, diseases, pathogens, and toxins.
1.6.1 Change in Anthropogenic Activity on Land
Change in anthropogenic activities is mainly change in land-use. It is very important
for sustainable development of algal biofuel because of associated environmental
changes like emission of GHG, alterations in ecosystem and biodiversity, deforestation, and urbanization. The effect of algal biofuel production will depend partially on
the type of land-use, how much the land got disturbed, and also for how long the
change persist. Large-scale production of algal biofuels will need substantial land
area to develop facilities. Land for algal cultivation does not require fertile soil so it
leads to cost-effective biofuel production, agricultural land, industrial land and land
for residential use are not required. Moreover, forest land conversion is also not
suitable because of the high costs of clearing. Algal biofuels production may involve
brownfields, scrubland, abandoned farmland; also, unproductive farmland and
coastal islands could also be used. Physical, an algal biofuel producing company,
utilizing fallow land in Hawaii, which was previously used for pineapple plantation
18
N. Maheshwari et al.
from any given source. It is estimated that 2200 acres of algae cultivation area is
required to utilize the fully CO 2 emitted from the flue gas of a natural-gas-fired
power plant. Algae can only utilize total generated CO 2 during the photosynthetically active sunlight hours (Brune et al. 2009). Due to CO 2 off-gassing during
non-sunlight hours and the unavoidable losses of CO 2 during algae production,
CO 2 emissions offset will be limited to an estimated 20–30% of the total power
plant emissions. Recent work of Davis et al. (2016) suggests that major percentage
utilization of total emissions is possible through conducting primary CO 2 capture
with an absorber. The system could capture 80% from low-concentration sources
(flue gas with 4–4.5% CO 2 concentration) and 90% from higher-concentration
sources (coal). Thus the overall capture and use of the CO 2 is assumed as 70–80%.
1.6
Potential Environmental Effect During Production of Algal
Biofuel
Cultivation of microalgae as biological resource for the production of biofuel has
been a broad scope of research. Large-scale production of algal biofuel using
different resources has been shown to have both positive and negative impacts on
the environment (Hannon et al. 2010a, b). Limited studies that have been done so far
discussed the scale up of cultivation system and also environmental impacts that
could occur. This chapter includes the possible environmental impacts from algal
biofuel production. Potential effect of anthropogenic activity on land, water, and air
quality and also emission of greenhouse gas (GHG), biodiversity, effect of genetically engineered algae organisms, waste products, diseases, pathogens, and toxins.
1.6.1 Change in Anthropogenic Activity on Land
Change in anthropogenic activities is mainly change in land-use. It is very important
for sustainable development of algal biofuel because of associated environmental
changes like emission of GHG, alterations in ecosystem and biodiversity, deforestation, and urbanization. The effect of algal biofuel production will depend partially on
the type of land-use, how much the land got disturbed, and also for how long the
change persist. Large-scale production of algal biofuels will need substantial land
area to develop facilities. Land for algal cultivation does not require fertile soil so it
leads to cost-effective biofuel production, agricultural land, industrial land and land
for residential use are not required. Moreover, forest land conversion is also not
suitable because of the high costs of clearing. Algal biofuels production may involve
brownfields, scrubland, abandoned farmland; also, unproductive farmland and
coastal islands could also be used. Physical, an algal biofuel producing company,
utilizing fallow land in Hawaii, which was previously used for pineapple plantation
18
N. Maheshwari et al.