Background:
Most people get confused with algae, assuming it comes under the flora category. It comes under the protist category. There are two major categories to classify algae macroalgae and microalgae. There are more than 1 million known Algae species, and still many need to be discovered. Another interesting fact about Algae is that they produce more than half of the world's oxygen. They can be used in various applications to improve sustainability in multiple categories in our day-to-day life.
Application as biofuel:
Algae can be an alternative to crude oil for energy requirements. Unlike other fuels, Algae fuel releases CO2, known as algal-biofuel. Algaculture, farming algae for commercial purposes, is being practiced worldwide. So many private and government agencies are trying to subsidize this idea to make Algae fuel commercially viable and be a replacement for existing crude oil. Algaculture is practiced by utilizing land, which is unsustainable for agriculture. The cost of raw materials required to produce algal biofuel is high than other biofuels but is estimated to have 10 to 100 times more yield per unit area than other biofuels.
Research work:
Algal biofuel is estimated to be more efficient than existing fossil fuels. In terms of producing it, one of the partners of renowned energy-production company Exxon Mobil, Synthetic Genomics, estimates that it can make up to 10,000 daily if the current trend in research continues. This estimation is close to fossil fuel production in the present scenario. Even the production process is environmentally friendly, and even if there is a spill, there is no harm to the environment. In a study conducted by the United states department of energy, It is estimated that if algal biofuel can replace the existing fossil fuel petrol entirely, then the production of algal fuel requires 39,000 km2 Which is only 0.42 % of the United States map. All the research mentioned above clearly shows the viability of algal biofuel.
How algal biofuel is made:
Algal biofuel is produced by transesterification, where a catalyst creates biofuel by methylating and hydrolyzing fatty acids present in the oil. Algae have oil in them to move around and float on the surface. This oil is extracted, and the process mentioned above is followed to create biofuel. There are also other processes followed for the production of algal biofuel.
Progress:
Recently, the Culture of collection of Algae and Protozoa(CCAP), based out in the Scottish Association for marine science in Oban, opened up a new laboratory at £681,641. This center focuses on creating new products with algae to cope with the increasing demands day to day in a sustainable way. Scientists worldwide can collaborate to design new products and create new developments. The center currently has nearly 3000 strains of microscopic organisms of freshwater algae, saline water algae, Cyanobacteria, Protozoa, seaweeds, and other seaweed pathogens. All these in their inventory make the center very valuable to taking the research forward.
Conclusion:
There are several obligations about algae being an alternative to fossil fuels as the world is transitioning toward a more sustainable way to meet the demand. For example, take the transportation sector; electric vehicles replace internal combustion engine (ICL) vehicles. Algae being an alternative to current fossil fuels is questionable in this situation. However, the transition mentioned above from ICE vehicles to EVs will take many years as that technology is not ready to deliver the global demand. Moreover, even though EVs still replace all ICE vehicles, algae biofuel can be used to produce electricity by using it in power plants. There are many opportunities for algae biofuel as an energy source.
