Spatially Explicit Life Cycle Assessment: Opportunities and challenges of wastewater-based algal biofuels in the United States

Roostaei, Javad; Zhang, Yongli

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2016.08.008

Cited by 78 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Three main objectives were considered in the analysis: maximization of profitability in microalgal biodiesel production, minimization of direct competition with food production, and minimization of direct impacts on biodiversity (Figure S1). Based on the reviewed literature (Bennett, Turn, & Chan, ; Borowitzka et al, ; Boruff, Moheimani, & Borowitzka, ; Bravo‐Fritz, Sáez‐Navarrete, Herrera, & Ginocchio, ; Chiu & Wu, ; Coleman et al, ; Fortier & Sturm, ; Klise, Roach, & Passell, ; Lundquist et al, ; Mohseni, Pishvaee, & Sahebi, ; Niblick & Landis, ; Orfield et al, ; Prasad, Pullar, & Pratt, ; Quinn, Catton, Johnson, & Bradley, ; Quinn, Catton, Wagner, & Bradley, ; Roostaei & Zhang, ; Sharma et al, ; Venteris, McBride, Coleman, Skaggs, & Wigmosta, ; Venteris, Skaggs, Coleman, & Wigmosta, , ; Venteris et al, ; Venteris, Skaggs, Wigmosta, & Coleman, ; Wigmosta, Coleman, Skaggs, Huesemann, & Lane, ), a set of attributes that capture the complexity of microalgal biodiesel production were selected, either because they are essential for microalgal cultivation or because they have shown to maximize the profitability of microalgal biodiesel production (Sharma et al, ): water availability, lipid productivity, availability of flat lands, proximity to main transport networks (i.e., main roads and railroads), GNI per capita (used as a substitute for the availability of low labor costs), and proximity to known industrial CO 2 sources. Water availability is essential for microalgal cultivation (Chisti, ; Schenk et al, ) while lipid productivity is proportional to biodiesel production, increasing the profitability of microalgal biofuel production (Moody, McGinty, & Quinn, ; Quinn, Winter, & Bradley, ; Slade & Bauen, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With 16% of transport energy demands potentially fulfilled by biofuels in 2040 (IEA, 2017b), microalgal biofuel production systems could become an important alternative for offsetting fossil fuels in the transport sector, provided that significant reductions in their production costs are achieved (Acién, Molina, & Fernández-Sevilla, 2018;Chia et al, 2018;Norsker, Barbosa, Vermue, & Wijffels, 2011;Slade & Bauen, 2013). Costs reductions can derive from the development of biorefinery systems that produce high-value coproducts (e.g., food and animal feed) along with biofuels (Chia et al, 2018;Ruiz et al, 2016); the identification, development, and cultivation of fast-growing microalgal strains (Ajjawi et al, 2017;Mata et al, 2010); the colocation of microalgal production systems with free nutrient and CO 2 sources (e.g., from wastewater operations and industries) (Beal, Archibald, Huntley, Greene, & Johnson, 2018;Mu et al, 2014;Orfield, Keoleian, & Love, 2014;Roostaei & Zhang, 2017); the production of biogas and the recycling of nutrients (i.e., by anaerobic digestion) (González-González et al, 2018;Uggetti et al, 2014); and the implementation of governmental incentives based on the relative environmental benefits of biofuel production alternatives (Correa et al, 2019). However, considerable land areas will still be required to offset fossil fuels by microalgal cultivation, although lower compared to firstgeneration biofuels (Chisti, 2008;Correa et al, 2017).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Global mapping of cost‐effective microalgal biofuel production areas with minimal environmental impact

et al. 2019

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Sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels are urgently needed to avoid severe climate impacts and further environmental degradation. Microalgae are one of the most productive crops globally and do not need to compete for arable land or freshwater resources. Hence, they may become a promising, more sustainable cultivation alternative for the large‐scale production of biofuels provided that substantial reductions are achieved in their production costs. In this study, we identify the most suitable areas globally for siting microalgal farms for biodiesel production that maximize profitability and minimize direct competition with food production and direct impacts on biodiversity, based on a spatially explicit multiple‐criteria decision analysis. We further explore the relationships between microalgal production, agricultural value, and biodiversity, and propose several solutions for siting microalgal production farms, based on current and future targets in energy production using integer linear programming. If using seawater for microalgal cultivation, biodiesel production could reach 5.85 × 1011 L/year based on top suitable lands (i.e., between 13% and 16% of total transport energy demands in 2030) without directly competing with food production and areas of high biodiversity value. These areas are particularly abundant in the dry coasts of North and East Africa, the Middle East, and western South America. This is the first global analysis that incorporates economic and environmental feasibility for microalgal production sites. Our results can guide the selection of best locations for biofuel production using microalgae while minimizing conflicts with food production and biodiversity conservation.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Global mapping of cost‐effective microalgal biofuel production areas with minimal environmental impact

et al. 2019

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“…Here, the standards indicate that the dam should be able to maintain operations up to a flood with a 1 of 1000 per year recurrence probability (Salvadori et al, ). However, in some cases the expected lifetime of an engineering system is less than the associated design return period, such as a wastewater treatment plant with a project life span of ∼30 years that is designed to function under natural loads with 50‐ or 100‐year return periods (Read & Vogel, ; Roostaei & Zhang, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Defining Extreme Events: A Cross‐Disciplinary Review

et al. 2018

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Extreme events are of interest worldwide given their potential for substantial impacts on social, ecological, and technical systems. Many climate‐related extreme events are increasing in frequency and/or magnitude due to anthropogenic climate change, and there is increased potential for impacts due to the location of urbanization and the expansion of urban centers and infrastructures. Many disciplines are engaged in research and management of these events. However, a lack of coherence exists in what constitutes and defines an extreme event across these fields, which impedes our ability to holistically understand and manage these events. Here, we review 10 years of academic literature and use text analysis to elucidate how six major disciplines—climatology, earth sciences, ecology, engineering, hydrology, and social sciences—define and communicate extreme events. Our results highlight critical disciplinary differences in the language used to communicate extreme events. Additionally, we found a wide range in definitions and thresholds, with more than half of examined papers not providing an explicit definition, and disagreement over whether impacts are included in the definition. We urge distinction between extreme events and their impacts, so that we can better assess when responses to extreme events have actually enhanced resilience. Additionally, we suggest that all researchers and managers of extreme events be more explicit in their definition of such events as well as be more cognizant of how they are communicating extreme events. We believe clearer and more consistent definitions and communication can support transdisciplinary understanding and management of extreme events.

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“…In recent years, microalgae have received more attention in applied biotechnological studies in various aspects of energy (1), water (2) and high added-value bioproducts (3). Considering the economic aspects of integrating algae technology into a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), use of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Technoeconomic Analysis could help to find a viable market position for the technology (4)(5)(6)(7). At the moment large-scale wastewater-integrated algae facilities have not emerged in spite of the promising opportunities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MAB2.0 project: Integrating algae production into wastewater treatment

Nagy

Makó

Erdélyi

et al. 2018

The EuroBiotech Journal

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Different species of microalgae are highly efficient in removing nutrients from wastewater streams and are able to grow using flue gas as a CO2 source. These features indicate that application of microalgae has a promising outlook in wastewater treatment. However, practical aspects and process of integration of algae cultivation into an existing wastewater treatment line have not been investigated. The Climate-KIC co-funded Microalgae Biorefinery 2.0 project developed and demonstrated this integration process through a case study. The purpose of this paper is to introduce this process by phases and protocols, as well as report on the challenges and bottlenecks identified in the case study. These standardized technical protocols detailed in the paper help to assess different aspects of integration including biological aspects such as strain selection, as well as economic and environmental impacts. This process is necessary to guide wastewater treatment plants through the integration of algae cultivation, as unfavourable parameters of the different wastewater related feedstock streams need specific attention and management. In order to obtain compelling designs, more emphasis needs to be put on the engineering aspects of integration. Well-designed integration can lead to operational cost saving and proper feedstock treatment enabling algae growth.

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Spatially Explicit Life Cycle Assessment: Opportunities and challenges of wastewater-based algal biofuels in the United States

Cited by 78 publications

References 38 publications

Global mapping of cost‐effective microalgal biofuel production areas with minimal environmental impact

Global mapping of cost‐effective microalgal biofuel production areas with minimal environmental impact

Defining Extreme Events: A Cross‐Disciplinary Review

MAB2.0 project: Integrating algae production into wastewater treatment

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