Resource evaluation and site selection for microalgae production systems
Climate, land, and water resource requirements of microalgae production systems (MPS) were examined relative to construction costs, operating costs, and biomass productivity. The objective was the stratification of the southwestern United States into zones of relative suitability for MPS. Maps of climate (insolation, freeze-free period, precipitation, evaporation, thunderstorm days), land (use/cover, ownership, slope), and water (saline groundwater) resource parameters were obtained. These maps were transformed into digital overlays permitting the cell-by-cell compositing of selected resource parameters to form maps representing relative productivity, make-up water, climate suitability, land suitability, water suitability, and overall suitability. The Southwest was selected for this study because of its high levels of insolation, saline water resources, and large areas of relatively low valued land. The stratification maps cannot be used for the selection of specific sites because of their low resolution (12,455-acre cells). They can be used to guide future resource studies and site selection efforts, however, by limiting these efforts to the most suitable regions. Future efforts should concentrate on saline water resources, for which only limited data are currently available. 13 refs., 44 figs., 5 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 5585709
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/TR-215-2484; ON: DE85008807
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
ALGAE
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARID LANDS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
CLIMATES
COST
CULTIVATION
FEDERAL REGION VI
INSOLATION
LAND USE
MAPS
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
PRODUCTIVITY
RESOURCES
SALINITY
SITE SELECTION
SOUTHWEST REGION
UNICELLULAR ALGAE
USA
WATER RESOURCES