Microalgae biodiesel is a sustainable and high-yielding form of diesel that can be produced almost anywhere, reducing carbon emissions. However, drawbacks include the need for more land to grow the algae, higher nitric oxide emissions, and lower performance in cold temperatures.
Biodiesel is a type of diesel created from organic components such as animal fats, virgin or used cooking oils, and many plants. Microalgae biodiesel uses a type of algae called microalgae as a feedstock. This type of biodiesel has several benefits, such as creating a sustainable form of diesel and reducing carbon emissions. There are drawbacks too, such as needing more land to create the algae and questionable efficiency.
Algae are of two distinct types: macroalgae and microalgae. The biggest difference between these two comes down to size, because macroalgae are measured in inches or centimeters while microalgae are unicellular or consist of only one cell. Although the macroalgae are larger, it is not used for biodiesel. This is because the oils that make up macroalgae are not suitable for creating biodiesel; only microalgae have the right oils for biodiesel production.
Some of the most potent crops used to create biodiesel are jatropha, coconuts and palm oil. Jatropha produces 202 gallons (764 liters) of oil per acre (376 meters4), coconut produces 287 gallons (1.08 kiloliters) per acre, and palm oil produces 636 gallons (2.4 kiloliters) per acre. Microalgae dwarf all of this by producing 6,283 gallons to 14,641 gallons (23.7 kiloliters to 55.4 kiloliters) per acre.
Not only does this high yield make microalgae biodiesel sustainable, it means that fewer plants will need to be grown for a sizable yield of biodiesel. Microalgae can also grow almost anywhere, so there is no need for special fields or areas in which to grow the algae. Microalgae can also fuel carbon emissions, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of where the algae are grown.
While this makes microalgae biodiesel attractive, conversion to this type of diesel has some drawbacks. To create enough biodiesel for world consumption, farmland will need to be converted to grow microalgae, and more farmland will be needed to meet growing diesel needs. Microalgae also emits more nitric oxide than petroleum-based diesel. Being a biodiesel, microalgae biodiesel cannot be transported via pipes; it can only be transported by truck or rail, which increases the cost.
Along with this, microalgae biodiesel does not flow well at low temperatures, nor does it perform well at low temperatures because it thickens. The overall performance of microalgae biodiesel is also lower. This means that fuel economy will also be negatively impacted because there is less energy efficiency and, therefore, more microalgae biodiesel is needed to power an engine.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
