A Model of CO2-Fed Algal Biofuel Potential In the US

A Model of CO2-fed Algal Biofuel Potential in the US

Carbon dioxide is an essential input for some sustainable fuel technologies: The carbon serves as substrate for reduction to a fuel molecule. Large-scale algal biomass production is most often conceived as a pond or photo-bioreactor fed with CO2 from power plant flue gas because mass transfer of CO2 from the atmosphere is too low  for the highly productive cultures required for economic viability.  We studied the effects of flue gas transport, climate, and power- plant size on algal biomass potential in the US. We report results and concepts that will carry over to other sustainable fuels requiring CO2 inputs.