Framework to Characterize Renewable Energy Production from Algae Proposed

Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin (United States) propose an analytical framework and nomenclature system for characterizing renewable diesel production from algae. The proposed analytical framework stems from the observation that many studies evaluating the renewable energy potential from algae do not have all the information for complete assessment. Published results may also be subject to misinterpretation due to differences in nomenclature and differences in interpretation of definitions. There is still some ambiguity on how best to report the results, and there is also a need for standardization, so that researchers can better integrate results from multiple sources.

The University of Texas at Austin team formulated the framework based on three modes of algal processing for renewable energy: (1) transesterification of extracted algal lipids (biodiesel), (2) thermochemical conversion of algal biomass (a biobased hydrocarbon-like fuel product), and (3) the conversion of secreted algal oils.

An overview of the methodology is described by the authors as follows: "The nomenclature system is initially presented from a top-level perspective that is applicable to all production pathways for renewable diesel from algae. Then, the nomenclature is expanded to characterize the production of renewable diesel (specifically, biodiesel) from extracted algal lipids in detail. The analytical framework uses the presented nomenclature system and includes three main principles: using appropriate reporting metrics, using symbolic notation to represent unknown values, and presenting results that are specific to algal species, growth conditions, and product composition". The full paper is published in the journal, Bioenergy Research (URL above).