This article presents an engineering study of an integrated system to produce bio-oil from microalgae biomass. The analysis is based on a pilot plant located at Minami-soma Fukushima, Japan, which further simulates 1 ha based-cultivation. Municipal wastewater and flue gases were utilized as nutrient sources for the microalgae culture of the proposed design. A flow sheet diagram of the integrated plant was synthesized by process engineering software to allow simulation of a continuous system. The design and sizing of the process equipment were performed to obtain a realistic estimation of possible production cost. The results demonstrated that nutrient savings was achieved by wastewater and CO 2 utilization to the polyculture of native microalgae. Process simulation gave an estimated CO 2 sequestration of 82.77 to 140.58 tons ha −1 year −1 with 63 to 107 tons ha −1 year −1 of potential biomass production. The integrated process significantly improved the energy balance and economics of biofuel production and also the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The economic analysis confirmed that higher biomass production and technology improvement were required to achieve operational feasibility and profitability of the current microalgae-based bio-oil production.

Large scale utilization of microalgae to produce biodiesel will boost large amounts of fertilizer and water consumption in upstream stage and needs excessive energy in the downstream process. To overcome these issues, the integrated energy plantation has been introduced as a suitable cultivation system, including the possibility to utilize its effluent. As a free and rich nutrient source for microalgae growth, POME was carefully evaluated in order to find out more energy return in upstream stage. In the downstream stage model, a wet lipid process pathway was chosen as the current best available method. Consequently, reducing energy consumption for the biodiesel production cycle was achieved and the energy profit ratio reached up to 2.6. Energy demand was lessened by a combination of outputs from one system, and served as inputs to another, from the integration of POME treatment, biomass power plant, biogas production, microalgae cultivation, and co-products utilization. Therefore, the energy and material balances could significantly outperform those from the single system.

Microalgae is a biofuel crop that needs large amounts of water and nutrients in cultivation stage and requires excessive energy at the downstream processes. his study presented an integrated plantation concept to accomplish these issues by material and energy balance optimization of microalgae based biodiesel production cycle. Significant potency of positive energy balance by utilizing agriculture waste water from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) was comprehensively investigated. However, POME has rich nutrient compounds for microalgae growth and its utilization reduces energy penalty. The total energy balance indicated substantial figures, in range of 2.66 up to 3.05 or even higher following the system efficiency. Meanwhile, total energy output for 1 production cycle in 10 ha microalgae pond approximately 160 GJ and net energy produced reaches 100 GJ. Based on current best available methods or technologies, microalgae cultivation for biofuels by using wastewater provide a positive energy return and might be economically viable.

Energy has an important role in achieving social, economic and environmental goals, with energy being a driving force for the economy and a form of defense against the state. Because energy supports the supply of fuel, electricity and infrastructure so as to support a stable defense. The increasing needs of the community in the transportation sector and the decreasing availability of fossil energy. The Indonesian government is trying to find alternative energy as a substitute for fuel oil, namely by using electric vehicles. With the development of electric vehicles in Indonesia, it is expected to be a solution and can support the achievement of clean and environmentally friendly energy. Electric vehicles can reduce pollution and exhaust emissions due to the use of fuel oil in two or four-wheeled vehicles. In addition, using electric-fueled vehicles will certainly reduce the energy crisis and import fuel oil. In support of clean and environmentally friendly energy, Indonesia has supported the Paris Agreement policy to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector. The author tries to discuss the use of electric vehicles through current policies and applications and is associated with reducing carbon emissions through the use of electric cars. At the end the researcher will provide strategic recommendations related to the use and development of environmentally friendly electric vehicles to be developed in Indonesia in order to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation sector.