Table 1 Energy and material flows. Energy impacts are global averages14 and prices are based on Thailand market prices16,17.

From: Marine microalgae commercial production improves sustainability of global fisheries and aquaculture

Inputs

Value (X)

Energy Equiv. (MJ/X)

Energy Impact (MJ/d)

Price ($/X)

Cost/Revenue ($/d)

GHG Impact*

(g CO2e/X)

GHG

(g CO2e/d)

Cultivation

   Water Supply Electricity (MJ/d)

27,300

2.65

72,300

0.02

606

175

4,770,000

   Volume Transfer Electricity (MJ/d)

7,210

2.65

19,100

0.02

160

175

1,260,000

   PBR Airlift Circulation Electricity (MJ/d)

12,800

2.65

34,000

0.02

286

175

2,250,000

   Pond Circulation Electricity (MJ/d)

33,600

2.65

89,000

0.02

746

175

5,880,000

   Nutrient Stock Tank Mixer (MJ/d)

564

2.65

1,490

0.02

12.5

175

98,700

   Carbon Dioxide Consumed (kg/d)

49,400

8.90

440,000

0.08

3,710

910

45,000,000

   Ammonia Consumed (kg/d)

1,540

40.5

62,500

0.46

701

2090

3,220,000

   DAP Consumed (kg/d)

537

28.7

15,400

0.41

221

1470

790,000

   PBR Plastic (m2/d)

3,060

2.01

6,160

0.47

1,440

272

833,000

 

Cultivation Energy (MJ/d)

740,000

Cultivation Cost ($/d)

7,880

Cultivation GHG

(g CO2e/d)

64,100,000

Harvesting

   Pump Secondary Sludge (MJ/d)

26.7

2.65

70.6

0.02

0.59

175

4,660

   Filter Press Operation (MJ/d)

1,110

2.65

2,950

0.02

24.8

175

195,000

 

Harvesting Energy (MJ/d)

3,020

Harvesting Cost ($/d)

25.3

Harvesting GHG

(g CO2e/d)

200,000

Extraction

   Extraction Electricity (MJ/d)

1,460

2.65

3,860

0.02

32.3

175

255,000

   Ethanol (kg/d)

201

45.9

9,220

0.44

87.8

1090

219,000

   Acetyl Chloride (kg/d)

60.0

124

7,420

0.81

48.4

7670

460,000

   Extraction Heat (MJ/d)

184,000

1.30

239,000

0.005

827

80

14,700,000

   Solvent Consumed (kg/d)

101

22.3

2,240

4.43

446

320

32,200

   Cooling Water (m3/d)

4.47

5.00

22.3

0.61

2.74

0.00

0

   Steam (kg/d)

30.3

2.80

84.9

0.003

0.09

0.00

0

 

Extraction Energy (MJ/d)

262,000

Extraction Cost ($/d)

1,440

Extraction GHG

(g CO2e/d)

15,700,000

Energy Input (MJ/d)

1,010,000

Total Cost ($/d)

9,350

Total GHG

(g CO2e/d)

80,000,000

Outputs

   Lipids (kg/d)

6,710

53.1

356,000

1.80

12,100

NA

NA

   Non-lipid Biomass (kg/d)

13,500

25.1

339,000

1.40

18,900

NA

NA

Total Output for Facility (kg/d)

20,200

Energy Output (MJ/d)

695,000

Revenue ($/d)

31,000

Total Algae Yield (kg/d)

20,200

EROI

0.69

Revenue/Cost ()

3.31

GHG per kg Algae (kg CO2e/kg)

3.96

  1. *GHG impacts not shown for PVC (2,090 g CO2e/kg), transport of materials and waste (170 g CO2e/tkm), and waste disposal (130 g CO2e/kg).