Gaseous Energy Carrier from Algal Material

Abstract

Contemporary society faces a significant challenge of effectively utilizing clean energy for future needs, which is inextricably linked to the stability of the Earth, economic development, and human life quality. Fuels comprise approximately 70% of the overall energy demands of the world, particularly in the domains of transportation, industry, and residential heating. The environmental degradation engendered by the consumption of fossil fuels, coupled with the finite reserves of these fuels, has spurred greater attention to be directed towards biofuels. Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass sources, and algae, in particular, are one of the most vital and beneficial sources of biofuels. Algae harness the free energy source of sunlight and biologically capture carbon dioxide, thereby providing oxygen and valuable biomass. Liquid ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, as well as gaseous diesel fuels such as biohydrogen and biomethane, can be procured from algae. The present chapter pertains to investigating various types of gaseous biofuels derived from algae, while also examining the challenges of producing gaseous energy from algal sources on an industrial scale and exploring future perspectives. © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.