Environmental indicators for sustainable production of algal biofuels |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Agronomy, 1203 Agronomy Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States;2. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, 2323 Elings Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States;3. Department of Agronomy, 1206 Agronomy Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, United States;1. Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, Steele Building, The University of Queensland, 4072, Australia;2. School of Chemical Engineering, Blg 74, The University of Queensland, 4072, Australia;1. Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;2. Department of Chemistry, 1102 Natural Sciences II, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA;3. Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland;1. Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia;2. Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU, Australia;3. Photobioenergetics Group, Research School of Biology (RSB), ANU, Australia;1. Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt;2. Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, P.R. China;3. Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt |
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| Abstract: | For analyzing sustainability of algal biofuels, we identify 16 environmental indicators that fall into six categories: soil quality, water quality and quantity, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, and productivity. Indicators are selected to be practical, widely applicable, predictable in response, anticipatory of future changes, independent of scale, and responsive to management. Major differences between algae and terrestrial plant feedstocks, as well as their supply chains for biofuel, are highlighted, for they influence the choice of appropriate sustainability indicators. Algae strain selection characteristics do not generally affect which indicators are selected. The use of water instead of soil as the growth medium for algae determines the higher priority of water- over soil-related indicators. The proposed set of environmental indicators provides an initial checklist for measures of algal biofuel sustainability but may need to be modified for particular contexts depending on data availability, goals of stakeholders, and financial constraints. Use of these indicators entails defining sustainability goals and targets in relation to stakeholder values in a particular context and can lead to improved management practices. |
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| Keywords: | Algae Bioenergy Biofuel Biodiversity Greenhouse gas emissions Indicator Productivity Sustainability Water |
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