Title: Geoengineering, marine microalgae, and climate stabilization in the 21st century

Abstract

Abstract Society has set ambitious targets for stabilizing mean global temperature. To attain these targets, it will have to reduce CO ₂ emissions to near zero by mid‐century and subsequently remove CO ₂ from the atmosphere during the latter half of the century. There is a recognized need to develop technologies for CO ₂ removal; however, attempts to develop direct air‐capture systems have faced both energetic and financial constraints. Recently, BioEnergy with Carbon Capture and Storage ( BECCS ) has emerged as a leading candidate for removing CO ₂ from the atmosphere. However, BECCS can have negative consequences on land, nutrient, and water use as well as biodiversity and food production. Here, we describe an alternative approach based on the large‐scale industrial production of marine microalgae. When cultivated with proper attention to power, carbon, and nutrient sources, microalgae can be processed to produce a variety of biopetroleum products, including carbon‐neutral biofuels for the transportation sector and long‐lived, potentially carbon‐negative construction materials for the built environment. In addition to these direct roles in mitigating and potentially reversing the effects of fossil CO ₂ emissions, microalgae can also play an important indirect role. As microalgae exhibit much higher primary production rates thanmore » terrestrial plants, they require much less land area to produce an equivalent amount of bioenergy and/or food. On a global scale, the avoided emissions resulting from displacement of conventional agriculture may exceed the benefits of microalgae biofuels in achieving the climate stabilization goals.« less

Authors:

Greene, Charles H. ^[1]; Huntley, Mark E. ^[2]; Archibald, Ian ^[3]; Gerber, Léda N. ^[1]; Sills, Deborah L. ^[4]; Granados, Joe ^[5]; Beal, Colin M. ^[6]; Walsh, Michael J. ^[7]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Cornell University Ithaca New York USA, Pacific Aquaculture &, Coastal Resources Center University of Hawaii Hilo Hawaii USA
2. Pacific Aquaculture &, Coastal Resources Center University of Hawaii Hilo Hawaii USA, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
3. Pacific Aquaculture &, Coastal Resources Center University of Hawaii Hilo Hawaii USA, Cinglas Ltd. Chester UK
4. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Cornell University Ithaca New York USA, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Bucknell University Lewisburg Pennsylvania USA
5. Pacific Aquaculture &, Coastal Resources Center University of Hawaii Hilo Hawaii USA
6. Pacific Aquaculture &, Coastal Resources Center University of Hawaii Hilo Hawaii USA, B&,D Engineering and Consulting LLC Lander Wyoming USA
7. Center for Integration of Science &, Industry Bentley University Waltham Massachusetts USA

Publication Date:

Tue Mar 21 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1347619

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1347620; OSTI ID: 1393451

Grant/Contract Number:  

DE‐EE0007091; DE‐EE0003371; EE0007091; EE0003371

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Earth's Future

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Earth's Future Journal Volume: 5 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 2328-4277

Publisher:

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Microalgae; Geoengineering; Climate