The National Academies Press

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1 Introduction
Pages 11-26

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From page 11... ... For simplicity, biofuels derived from macroalgae, microalgae, and cyanobacteria grown under photosynthetic conditions all are referred to as algal biofuels. 2Macroalgae are multicellular algae that lack true roots and leaves. Read the entire page →
From page 12... ... Domestic production of renewable fuels including algal biofuels has the potential to meet the dual goals of improving energy security and decreasing GHG emissions from the transportation sector. However, a dramatic decrease in foreign oil importation and reduction in GHG emissions in the United States will require the production and use of multiple alternative transportation fuels. Read the entire page →
From page 13... ... � Identify information or data gaps related to the impacts of algal biofuel production. � Suggest indicators and metrics to be used to assess sustainability concerns across the algal biofuel supply chain and data to be collected now to establish baseline and to assess sustainability. Read the entire page →
From page 14... ... 1.2.2 Components of Sustainable Biofuel Development As in the case of plant-based biofuels (NRC, 2011b) , algal biofuels could provide opportunities to improve energy security, reduce GHG emissions, and maintain and enhance the resource base and environmental quality, but their production also could raise sustainability concerns. Read the entire page →
From page 15... ... 1.2.2.2 Economics Cost of production is an important aspect of sustainable development that applies to all nonpetroleum-based alternative fuels including algal biofuels. Alternative fuels are not likely to penetrate the fuel markets if they are much more expensive for consumers than other fuel alternatives (NRC, 2008, 2011b) Read the entire page →
From page 16... ... This report discusses how the resource use and environmental effects of large-scale algal biofuel production could affect the social acceptability of algal biofuels. 1.2.3 Sustainability of Transportation Fuel The preceding section mentioned some potential sustainability concerns for large-scale development of algal biofuels (which will be discussed in detail in later chapters along with opportunities to mitigate them) Read the entire page →
From page 17... ... 1.3 TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES FOR ASSESSING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ALGAL BIOFUELS This section presents a brief overview of the tools and methodologies used for assessing the sustainability of algal biofuels in this report. The objective here is not to provide results from the application of these methodologies to algal biofuels, but to provide a brief description of the approaches used in this report and how they help meet the overall objectives of providing indicators and approaches to measuring the sustainability of algal biofuels. Read the entire page →
From page 18... ... . Indication of sustainable development of algal biofuels is indirect, through the union of metrics of resource use, other environmental impacts, social acceptance (all considered in this report) Read the entire page →
From page 19... ... Because sustainable development implies progress toward sustainability goals, it is important to understand baselines for indicators of sustainability. Moreover, the attribution of particular environmental and social effects to algal biofuel production requires an understanding of baseline and reference conditions. Read the entire page →
From page 20... ... . A sustainability assessment for algal biofuel production may entail comparing algal biofuels with business-as-usual scenarios for energy use (that is, using mostly petroleumbased gasoline in transportation as is done today) Read the entire page →
From page 21... ... Algal biofuel production is in early development and there are limited historical data. In addition, technological progress and scale-up will affect future material flows but are challenging to forecast. Read the entire page →
From page 22... ... For example, scenarios for algal biofuels might look at potential system design, resource requirements, and infrastructure needs required to reach a given percentage of the liquid fluids market. Scenarios can help define the environmental and resource sustainability issues that might accompany a greatly expanded algal biofuel production system. Read the entire page →
From page 23... ... Chapter 2 provides an overview of algal biofuel supply chain and examples of different cultivation, harvesting, dewatering, processing, and coproduction methods that could be used in producing algal biofuels. Chapter 3 introduces selected algal biofuel production systems as examples to illustrate challenges and sustainability concerns of algal biofuel production and possible tradeoffs among sustainability goals. Read the entire page →
From page 24... ... 2010. National Algal Biofuels Technology Roadmap. Read the entire page →
From page 25... ... Sponsor Perspectives for NRC Study on Algae Biofuels Sustainability. Presentation to the the NRC Committee on Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels on March 17. Read the entire page →

From page 11...

... For simplicity, biofuels derived from macroalgae, microalgae, and cyanobacteria grown under photosynthetic conditions all are referred to as algal biofuels. 2Macroalgae are multicellular algae that lack true roots and leaves.

1 Introduction Pages 11-26

1 Introduction
Pages 11-26