Research Article
Sustainable Algae Biodiesel Production in Cold Climates
Table 5
Summary of average sustainability metrics to compare algae and soy BD production.
| | | Scenario |
|
Environmental Impact | Greenhouse Nat. Gas, Syracuse | Greenhouse Nat. Gas, Albany | Greenhouse w/waste heat, Syracuse | Greenhouse w/waste heat, Albany | Insulated, no nat. light | Soy biodiesel production |
|
Total life cycle energy Consumption (MJ/L of BD) | 23 | 21 | 16 | 15 | 22 | 21 |
Land utilization (m2/L of BD/yr) | 0.053 | 0.048 | 0.053 | 0.048 | 0.040 | 22.2 |
|
Water Consumption (L water/L BD) | 5–7 | 5–7 | 5–7 | 5–7 | 4–6 | 6,500 |
|
Greenhouse gas emissions (g equiv/L of BD) | 1350 | 1150 | 740 | 630 | 910 | 925 |
|
Acidification potential (g eq./L of BD) | 4.9 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.4 | 4.0 |
| Toxic Emissions (g /L of BD) | PM 10 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 2.6 | 2.3 | 5.7 | 5.3 | PM 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.7 | VOC | 0.22 | 0.20 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 0.09 | 3.4 | CO | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
|
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does not include credits.
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