Book Chapter Proposal

Chapter title: Life Cycle Assessment of Algal Biofuels

Author: Prof. Pratham Arora, Assistant Professor, Department of Hydro and Renewable Energy, IIT
Roorkee, India.
Abstract
Algal biofuels provide an exciting opportunity to effectively replace the conventional crude-based fossil
fuels. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions benefit of algal biofuels is derived from the fact that the algae
growth process sequestrates a considerable amount of carbon dioxide. Many life cycle assessment (LCA)
studies have been carried out in the recent past to validate the benefits of algal biofuels. However,
considerable differences are observed in the predicted environmental benefits from these studies. These
differences arise from a variety of factors such as choice of the functional unit, system boundary, the algae
species, and the conversion processes. Furthermore, a majority of studies focus on GHG emissions, thus
neglecting other potential environmental impacts of algal biofuels production. This chapter aims to provide
a review of the LCA studies for algal biofuels, which have been conducted in the recent past. The
differences in the assumptions, as well as the final results, would be thoroughly discussed. The chapter will
also aim to underline the state of the art practices to provide consistent results for the decision makers. To
highlight the importance of LCA in the context of algal biofuels, a study would be undertaken to understand
the effects of different CO2 supply scenarios on the overall sustainability of the algal biofuels production
process.
Tentative outline of the chapter
1. Algal biofuels
a. Types of algae
b. Algae growth modes
c. Algae cultivation
d. Algae to biofuel conversion technologies
2. Life cycle assessment (LCA)
a. Types of LCA
b. System boundary
c. Functional Unit
d. Impact categories
3. LCA of Algal biofuels
a. Literature review of recent studies
b. Comparison of studies
c. Factors affecting LCA results
d. LCA case study: Effects of CO2 supply chain
4. Recent advance in LCA of algal biofuels
a. Spatial LCA
b. Time-dependant LCA
c. Social LCA
d. Integration of resilience
e. Impact of land-use change
5. Conclusions