Oxford Study Highlights Advantages and Barriers for Algal Biodiesel
(Algae Industry Magazine) A new life cycle analysis by a team from the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, at the University of Oxford, states that algae-derived biodiesel could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver a high financial return, while also providing a sustainable and realistic alternative to conventional oil.
The study, published in the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science, also suggests that If algae-derived biodiesel were to replace the annual global production of 1.1bn tons of conventional diesel, a landmass of 57.3 million hectares (142 million acres) would be required, comparing highly favorable to other biofuels.
The production process is the current barrier to large-scale production, says the report – currently 2.5 times as energy intensive as conventional diesel, which restricts the current financial and environmental feasibility of algae production. READ MORE Abstract
