IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v275y2020ics0306261920309156.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy efficiency analysis of outdoor standalone photovoltaic-powered photobioreactors coproducing lipid-rich algal biomass and electricity

Author

Listed:
  • Nwoba, Emeka G.
  • Parlevliet, David A.
  • Laird, Damian W.
  • Alameh, Kamal
  • Louveau, Julien
  • Pruvost, Jeremy
  • Moheimani, Navid R.

Abstract

The need for thermal regulation in microalgal photobioreactors is a significant impediment to their large-scale adoption. The energy costs associated with thermal regulation alone can easily result in a negative energy balance. Self-sustaining photovoltaic powered photobioreactors that do not require cooling systems provide an opportunity to maximize biomass productivity, generate local electricity, reduce thermal regulation requirements, and significantly improve the energy balance of the system. Net energy analysis of a spectrally-selective, insulated-glazed photovoltaic photobioreactor (IGP) with an integrated capability for renewable electricity generation used to cultivate Nannochloropsis sp. without freshwater-based cooling resulted in a net energy ratio of 2.96, a figure comparable to agricultural bio-oil crops such as Jatropha and soybean. Experimental data from pilot-scale operation of this novel photobioreactor producing Nannochloropsis biomass under outdoor conditions was extrapolated to a 1-ha IGP installation. Annual biomass productivity reached 66.0-tons dry weight ha−1, equivalent to overall energy output of 1696.2 GJ ha−1. The integrated semi-transparent photovoltaic panels generated an additional 1126.8 GJ ha−1 yr−1 (313.0 MWh ha−1 yr−1). Energy demands from plant building materials, machinery, fertilizers, plant operations, and biomass harvesting constituted total energy input with a combined value of 707.3 GJ ha−1 yr−1. Comparison with a conventional photobioreactor requiring passive evaporative cooling showed novel photobioreactor had a 73% greater net energy ratio. Nannochloropsis cultivation in IGP system ensured co-production of lipid and protein of 34.7 and 25.7-tons ha−1 yr−1, respectively. These results suggest that this novel photobioreactor could be a viable and sustainable biomass production technology for mass microalgal cultivation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nwoba, Emeka G. & Parlevliet, David A. & Laird, Damian W. & Alameh, Kamal & Louveau, Julien & Pruvost, Jeremy & Moheimani, Navid R., 2020. "Energy efficiency analysis of outdoor standalone photovoltaic-powered photobioreactors coproducing lipid-rich algal biomass and electricity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:275:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920309156
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115403
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920309156
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115403?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ishika, Tasneema & Moheimani, Navid R. & Bahri, Parisa A., 2017. "Sustainable saline microalgae co-cultivation for biofuel production: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 356-368.
    2. Brennan, Liam & Owende, Philip, 2010. "Biofuels from microalgae--A review of technologies for production, processing, and extractions of biofuels and co-products," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 557-577, February.
    3. Barbera, Elena & Sforza, Eleonora & Vecchiato, Luca & Bertucco, Alberto, 2017. "Energy and economic analysis of microalgae cultivation in a photovoltaic-assisted greenhouse: Scenedesmus obliquus as a case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 116-124.
    4. Naaz, Farah & Bhattacharya, Arghya & Pant, Kamal K. & Malik, Anushree, 2019. "Investigations on energy efficiency of biomethane/biocrude production from pilot scale wastewater grown algal biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    5. Moheimani, Navid Reza & Parlevliet, David, 2013. "Sustainable solar energy conversion to chemical and electrical energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 494-504.
    6. Razon, Luis F. & Tan, Raymond R., 2011. "Net energy analysis of the production of biodiesel and biogas from the microalgae: Haematococcus pluvialis and Nannochloropsis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3507-3514.
    7. Rawat, I. & Ranjith Kumar, R. & Mutanda, T. & Bux, F., 2013. "Biodiesel from microalgae: A critical evaluation from laboratory to large scale production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 444-467.
    8. Tredici, M.R. & Bassi, N. & Prussi, M. & Biondi, N. & Rodolfi, L. & Chini Zittelli, G. & Sampietro, G., 2015. "Energy balance of algal biomass production in a 1-ha “Green Wall Panel” plant: How to produce algal biomass in a closed reactor achieving a high Net Energy Ratio," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1103-1111.
    9. Colin M. Beal & Robert E. Hebner & Michael E. Webber & Rodney S. Ruoff & A. Frank Seibert & Carey W. King, 2012. "Comprehensive Evaluation of Algal Biofuel Production: Experimental and Target Results," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(6), pages 1-39, June.
    10. Boruff, Bryan J. & Moheimani, Navid R. & Borowitzka, Michael A., 2015. "Identifying locations for large-scale microalgae cultivation in Western Australia: A GIS approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 379-391.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ogbonna, Christiana N. & Nwoba, Emeka G., 2021. "Bio-based flocculants for sustainable harvesting of microalgae for biofuel production. A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    2. Minghao Chen & Yixuan Chen & Qingtao Zhang, 2021. "A Review of Energy Consumption in the Acquisition of Bio-Feedstock for Microalgae Biofuel Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    3. Zhang, Congyu & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Zhang, Ying & Ho, Shih-Hsin, 2023. "Influence of microorganisms on the variation of raw and oxidatively torrefied microalgal biomass properties," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    4. Zhang, Congyu & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Ho, Shih-Hsin, 2022. "Elemental loss, enrichment, transformation and life cycle assessment of torrefied corncob," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    5. Mariam, Ezrah & Ramasubramanian, Brindha & Sumedha Reddy, Vundrala & Dalapati, Goutam Kumar & Ghosh, Siddhartha & PA, Thanseeha Sherin & Chakrabortty, Sabyasachi & Motapothula, Mallikarjuna Rao & Kuma, 2024. "Emerging trends in cooling technologies for photovoltaic systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Shahnazari, Mahdi & Bahri, Parisa A. & Parlevliet, David & Minakshi, Manickam & Moheimani, Navid R., 2017. "Sustainable conversion of light to algal biomass and electricity: A net energy return analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 218-229.
    2. Singh, Bhaskar & Guldhe, Abhishek & Rawat, Ismail & Bux, Faizal, 2014. "Towards a sustainable approach for development of biodiesel from plant and microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 216-245.
    3. Ogbonna, Christiana N. & Nwoba, Emeka G., 2021. "Bio-based flocculants for sustainable harvesting of microalgae for biofuel production. A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    4. Soratana, Kullapa & Khanna, Vikas & Landis, Amy E., 2013. "Re-envisioning the renewable fuel standard to minimize unintended consequences: A comparison of microalgal diesel with other biodiesels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 194-204.
    5. Maity, Jyoti Prakash & Bundschuh, Jochen & Chen, Chien-Yen & Bhattacharya, Prosun, 2014. "Microalgae for third generation biofuel production, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and wastewater treatment: Present and future perspectives – A mini review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 104-113.
    6. Minghao Chen & Yixuan Chen & Qingtao Zhang, 2021. "A Review of Energy Consumption in the Acquisition of Bio-Feedstock for Microalgae Biofuel Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Ishika, Tasneema & Moheimani, Navid R. & Bahri, Parisa A., 2017. "Sustainable saline microalgae co-cultivation for biofuel production: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 356-368.
    8. Goh, Brandon Han Hoe & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Cheah, Mei Yee & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Yu, Kai Ling & Mahlia, Teuku Meurah Indra, 2019. "Sustainability of direct biodiesel synthesis from microalgae biomass: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 59-74.
    9. López-González, D. & Puig-Gamero, M. & Acién, F.G. & García-Cuadra, F. & Valverde, J.L. & Sanchez-Silva, L., 2015. "Energetic, economic and environmental assessment of the pyrolysis and combustion of microalgae and their oils," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 1752-1770.
    10. Pooja Kandimalla & Priyanka Vatte & Chandra Sekhar Rao Bandaru, 2021. "Phycoremediation of automobile exhaust gases using green microalgae," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 6301-6322, April.
    11. Severo, Ihana Aguiar & Siqueira, Stefania Fortes & Deprá, Mariany Costa & Maroneze, Mariana Manzoni & Zepka, Leila Queiroz & Jacob-Lopes, Eduardo, 2019. "Biodiesel facilities: What can we address to make biorefineries commercially competitive?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 686-705.
    12. Chen, Jiaxin & Li, Ji & Dong, Wenyi & Zhang, Xiaolei & Tyagi, Rajeshwar D. & Drogui, Patrick & Surampalli, Rao Y., 2018. "The potential of microalgae in biodiesel production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 336-346.
    13. Muthu Ganesan Rajaram & Subramani Nagaraj & Manubolu Manjunath & Annakkili Baskara Boopathy & Chidambaram Kurinjimalar & Ramasamy Rengasamy & Thanasekaran Jayakumar & Joen-Rong Sheu & Jiun-Yi Li, 2018. "Biofuel and Biochemical Analysis of Amphora coffeaeformis RR03, a Novel Marine Diatom, Cultivated in an Open Raceway Pond," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-12, May.
    14. Oncel, Suphi S., 2013. "Microalgae for a macroenergy world," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 241-264.
    15. Mariana Abreu & Alberto Reis & Patrícia Moura & Ana Luisa Fernando & António Luís & Lídia Quental & Pedro Patinha & Francisco Gírio, 2020. "Evaluation of the Potential of Biomass to Energy in Portugal—Conclusions from the CONVERTE Project," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-32, February.
    16. Kligerman, Debora Cynamon & Bouwer, Edward J., 2015. "Prospects for biodiesel production from algae-based wastewater treatment in Brazil: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1834-1846.
    17. Muhammad Hanafi Azami & Mark Savill, 2017. "Pulse Detonation Assessment for Alternative Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-19, March.
    18. Naraharisetti, Pavan Kumar & Das, Probir & Sharratt, Paul N., 2017. "Critical factors in energy generation from microalgae," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 138-152.
    19. Boruff, Bryan J. & Moheimani, Navid R. & Borowitzka, Michael A., 2015. "Identifying locations for large-scale microalgae cultivation in Western Australia: A GIS approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 379-391.
    20. Donghan Kang & Keug Tae Kim & Tae-Young Heo & Gyutae Kwon & Chaeseung Lim & Jungsu Park, 2019. "Inhibition of Photosynthetic Activity in Wastewater-Borne Microalgal–Bacterial Consortia under Various Light Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-13, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:275:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920309156. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.