An integrated assessment of location-dependent scaling for microalgae biofuel production facilities

Journal Article · Thu Jun 19 04:00:00 UTC 2014 · Algal Research

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2014.05.008 · OSTI ID:1367852

Coleman, André M.  ^[1]; Abodeely, Jared M. ^[2]; Skaggs, Richard L. ^[1]; Moeglein, William A. ^[1]; Newby, Deborah T. ^[2]; Venteris, Erik R. ^[1]; Wigmosta, Mark S. ^[1]

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1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
2. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Successful development of a large-scale microalgae-based biofuels industry requires comprehensive analysis and understanding of the feedstock supply chain—from facility siting and design through processing and upgrading of the feedstock to a fuel product. The evolution from pilot-scale production facilities to energy-scale operations presents many multi-disciplinary challenges, including a sustainable supply of water and nutrients, operational and infrastructure logistics, and economic competitiveness with petroleum-based fuels. These challenges are partially addressed by applying the Integrated Assessment Framework (IAF) – an integrated multi-scale modeling, analysis, and data management suite – to address key issues in developing and operating an open-pond microalgae production facility. This is done by analyzing how variability and uncertainty over space and through time affect feedstock production rates, and determining the site-specific “optimum” facility scale to minimize capital and operational expenses. This approach explicitly and systematically assesses the interdependence of biofuel production potential, associated resource requirements, and production system design trade-offs. To provide a baseline analysis, the IAF was applied in this paper to a set of sites in the southeastern U.S. with the potential to cumulatively produce 5 billion gallons per year. Finally, the results indicate costs can be reduced by scaling downstream processing capabilities to fit site-specific growing conditions, available and economically viable resources, and specific microalgal strains.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Bioenergy Technologies Office (EE-3B)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517; AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 1367852
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU--14-33242; PII: S2211926414000514
• Journal Information: Algal Research, Journal Name: Algal Research Vol. 5; ISSN 2211-9264
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English