Are biofuels from seaweed a viable proposition? Bioeconomic modeling of biogas production and co-generation in an Australian context

• Holdt S, Kraan S. Bioactive compounds in seaweed: functional food applications and legislation. J. Appl. Phycol.23,543–597 (2011).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Wei N, Quarterman J, Jin Y. Marine macroalgae: an untapped resource for producing fuels and chemicals. Trends Biotechnol.31(2),71–77 (2013).
   Google Scholar
• FAO. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2012. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, Italy (2012).
   Google Scholar
• Froese F. An Economic Model for Large-Scale Macroalgae Production in South Australia. MSc Thesis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany (2012).
   Google Scholar
• Habig C. The effect of nitrogen content on methane production by the marine algae Gracilaria tikvahiae and Ulva sp. Biomass4,239–251 (1984).
   Google Scholar
• Briand X, Morand P. Anaerobic digestion of Ulva sp. 1. Relationship between Ulva composition and methanisation. J. Appl.Phycol.9,511–524 (1997).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Habig C, Ryther J. Methane production from the anaerobic digestion of some marine macrophytes. Resour. Conserv.8,271–279 (1983).
   Google Scholar
• Tarwadi S, Chauhan V. Seaweed biomass as a source of energy. Energy12,375–378 (1987).
   Google Scholar
• Matsui T, Koike Y. Methane fermentation of a mixture of seaweed and milk at a pilot-scale plant. J. Biosci. Bioengin.110,558–563 (2010).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bruhn A, Dahl J, Nielsen HB et al. Bioenergy potential of Ulva lactuca: biomass yield, methane production and combustion. Biores. Technol.102,2595–2604 (2011).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Habig C. Nitrogen recycling and methane production using Gracilaria tikvahiae: a closed system approach. Resour. Conserv.10,303–313 (1984).
   Google Scholar
• Eurobserv’er. Biogas barometer 2009. Le Journal Des Energies Renouvelables200,105–119 (2010).
   Google Scholar
• Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, Australian Government. Increasing Australia’s Renewable Electricity Generation – Annual Report 2011.34 (2011).
   Google Scholar
• Campbell PK, Beer T, Batten D. Lifecycle assessment of biodiesel production from microalgae in ponds. Bioresource Technol.102,50–56 (2011).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Huguenin J. An examination of problems and potentials for future large-scale intensive seaweed culture systems. Aquaculture9,313–342 (1976).
   Google Scholar
• Ryther JH, Debusk TA, Balakeslee M. Cultivation and Conversion of Marine Macroalgae. Solar Energy Research Institute, CO, USA (1984).
   Google Scholar
• Lundquist TJ, Woertz IC, Quinn NWT, Benemann JR. A Realistic Technology and Engineering Assessment of Algae Biofuel Production. Energy Biosciences Institute, CA, USA (2010).
   Google Scholar
• Stephens E, Ross IL, King Z et al. An economic and technical evaluation of microalgal biofuels. Nat. Biotechnol.28,126–128 (2010).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Weissman J, Goebel R. Design and Analysis of Microalgal Open Pond Systems for the Purpose of Producing Fuels. Solar Energy Research Institute, CO, USA (1987).
   Google Scholar
• Benemann JR, Oswald W. Systems and economic analysis of microalgae ponds for conversion of CO2 to biomass. US Department of Energy, PA, USA (1996).
   Google Scholar
• Zamalloa C, Vulsteke E, Albrecht J, Verstraete W. The techno-economic potential of renewable energy through the anaerobic digestion of microalgae. Bioresource Technol.102,1149–1158 (2011).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Marsham S, Scott GW, Tobin ML. Comparison of nutritive chemistry of a range of temperate seaweeds. Food Chem.100,1331–1336 (2007).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Msuya FE, Neori A. Effect of water aeration and nutrient load level on biomass yield, N uptake and protein content of the seaweed Ulva lactuca cultured in seawater tanks. J. Appl. Phycol.20,1021–1031 (2008).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Bruhn A, Dahl J, Nielsen HB et al. Bioenergy potential of Ulva lactuca: biomass yield, methane production and combustion. Bioresource Technol.102,2595–2604 (2011).
   PubMed Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Neori A. Seaweed biofilters as regulators of water quality in integrated fish–seaweed culture units. Aquaculture17,215–239 (1998).
   Google Scholar
• Vandermeulen H, Gordin H. Ammonium uptake using Ulva (Chlorophyta) in intensive fishpond systems: mass culture and treatment of effluent. J. Appl. Phycol.2,363–374 (1990).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Cohen I, Neori A. Ulva lactuca biofilters for marine fishpond effluents. I. Ammonia uptake kinetics and nitrogen content. Botanica Marina34,475–482 (1991).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ryder E, Nelson SG, Mckeon C, Glenn EP, Fitzsimmons K, Napolean S. Effect of water motion on the cultivation of the economic seaweed Gracilaria parvispora (Rhodophyta) on Molokai, Hawaii. Aquaculture238,207–219 (2004).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ho YB. Mineral element content in Ulva lactuca L. with reference to eutrophication in Hong Kong coastal waters. Hydrobiologia77,43–47 (1981).
   Google Scholar
• Krishnaiah D, Sarbatly R, Prasad DMR, Bone A. Mineral content of some seaweeds from Sabah’s South China Sea. Asian J. Sci. Res.1,166–170 (2008).
   Google Scholar
• Lapointe B, Ryther J. Some aspects of the growth and yield of Gracilaria tikvahiae in culture. Aquaculture15,185–193 (1978).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Ugarte R, Santelices B. Experimental tank cultivation of Gracilaria chilensis in central Chile. Aquaculture101,7–16 (1992).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Friedlander M, Shalev R, Ganor T et al. Seasonal fluctuations of growth rate and chemical composition of Gracilaria cf. conferta in outdoor culture in Israel. Hydrobiologia151–152,501–507 (1987).
   Google Scholar
• Lüning K, Pang S. Mass cultivation of seaweeds: current aspects and approaches. J. Appl. Phycol.15,115–119 (2003).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Winberg P, Skropeta D, Ullrich A. Seaweed Cultivation Pilot Trials: Towards Culture Systems and Marketable Products. Australian Government Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, RIRDC Publication No. 10/184. PRJ – 000162 (2011).
   Google Scholar
• Copertino MDS, Tormena T, Seeliger U. Biofiltering efficiency, uptake and assimilation rates of Ulva clathrata (Roth) J. Agardh (Chlorophyceae) cultivated in shrimp aquaculture waste water. J. Appl. Phycol.21,31–45 (2009).
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Jackson MM. Performance of sea macro-algae in pollution control: iron and manganese removal from water. J. Build. Land Develop.13(1),50–57 (2006).
   Google Scholar
• Matsui T, Amano T, Koike Y, Saiganji A, Saito H. Methane fermentation of seaweed biomass. Presented at: 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA, USA, 12–17 November 2006.
   Google Scholar
• Hanisak D, Williams L, Ryther J. Recycling the nutrients in residues from methane digesters of aquatic macrophytes for new biomass production. Resource Recov. Conserv.4,313–323 (1980).
   Google Scholar

▪ Websites

• Nextgen: Weekly Spot Chart – Spot LGCs and Spot NGACs. 3 August 2011. www.nges.com.au
   Google Scholar
• Australian Taxation Office, Australian Government: Company Tax Rates. 30 December 2011. www.ato.gov.au/businesses/content.aspx?doc=/content/44266.htm
   Google Scholar
• Alibaba. www.alibaba.com
   Google Scholar
• ASUE (2011) BHKW-Kenndaten 2011. Arbeitsgemeindschaft für den sparsamen und umweltfreundlichen Energievebrauch, Frankfurt am Main. http://asue.de/cms/upload/broschueren/2011/bhkw-kenndaten/asue-bhkw-kenndaten-0311.pdf
   Google Scholar
• Saacke Pocket Formula Guide (6th Edition). www.saacke.com/fileadmin/Media/Documents/pdfs/rules_of_thumb.pdf
   Google Scholar