Table of Contents (cont)

Re-Distributed by http://www.tpub.com

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

III.B.3.

High Rate Pond (HRP) Operations in California, 1981-1986 ....................................................... 176

III.B.3.a.

HRP Design and Construction Phase, 1981................................................................................................ 176

III.B.3.b.

HRP Operations in California, 1982 ........................................................................................................... 180

III.B.3.c.

Continuing California HRP Pond Operations, 1983-1984 ......................................................................... 180

III.B.3.d.

Completion of the California HRP Project, 1985-1986 ......................................................................... 186

III.B.4.

The Israeli Microalgae Biodiesel Production Project................................................................... 191

III.B.5.

Design and Operation of a Microalgae Outdoor Test Facility (OTF) in New Mexico................... 193

III.B.5.a.

Facility Design and Construction................................................................................................................ 193

III.B.5.b.

First Year OTF Experiments ....................................................................................................................... 196

III.B.3.c.

Full OTF System Operations ...................................................................................................................... 196

III.B.5.d.

Conclusions............................................................................................................................................ 199

III.B.6.

The Effects of Environmental Fluctuation on Laboratory Cultures ............................................... 200

III.B.6.a.

Species Control and Productivity................................................................................................................ 200

III.B.6.b.

The Algal Pond Growth Model................................................................................................................... 203

III.B.6.c.

Microalgae Competition under Fluctuating Conditions in the Laboratory ................................................. 206

III.B.6.d.

Lipid Productivity of Microalgae ........................................................................................................... 206

III.B.6.e.

Competition Studies with Continuous and Semicontinuous Cultures......................................................... 209

III.C. RESOURCE ANALYSES .............................................................................................................................. 212

III.C.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 212

III.C.2. The Battelle Columbus 1982 Resource Assessment Report ........................................................... 213

III.C.3. The 1982 Argonne Study of CO2 Availability ................................................................................. 213

III.C.4. The 1985 SERI Resource Evaluation Report.................................................................................. 214

III.C.5. The 1990 SERI Study of CO2 Sources ............................................................................................ 216

III.C.6. The 1990 SERI Study of Water Resources in New Mexico ............................................................. 218

III.C.7. Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 220

III.D. ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AND COST ANALYSES ......................................................................................... 220

III.D.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 220

III.D.2. The Algal Pond Subsystem of the APhotosynthesis Energy Factory@.............................................. 221

III.D.3. Cost Analysis of Microalgae Biomass Systems............................................................................... 222

III.D.4. Cost Analysis of Aquatic Biomass Systems .................................................................................... 225

III.D.5. Microalgae as a Source of Liquid Fuels......................................................................................... 226

III.D.6. Fuels from Microalgae Technology Status, Potential, and Research Requirements...................... 230

III.D.7. Design and Analysis of Microalgae Open Pond Systems ............................................................... 234

III.D.8. Systems and Economic Analysis of Microalgae Ponds for Conversion of CO2 to Biomass ........... 238

III.D.9. NREL Studies of Flue Gas CO2 Utilization by Microalgae ............................................................ 242

III.D.10. Conclusions. ................................................................................................................................... 246

IV.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................... 249

IV.A. MICROALGAL STRAIN IMPROVEMENT....................................................................................................... 249

IV.A.1.

Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 249

IV.A.2.

R&D Recommendations.................................................................................................................. 251

IV.A.2.a.

General Considerations .......................................................................................................................... 251

IV.A.2.b.

Maximum Efficiency of Photosynthesis................................................................................................. 251

IV.A.2.c.

Overcoming Light Saturation, Photooxidation, and Other Limitations.................................................. 253

IV.A.2.d.

Microalgal Strains for Mass Culture: Source and Genetic Improvements ............................................. 254

IV.B. MICROALGAL MASS CULTURE.................................................................................................................. 255

IV.B.1.

Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 255

IV.B.1.a.

Cost and Productivity Goals................................................................................................................... 255

IV.B.1.b.

Higher Value By- Products and CoProducts.......................................................................................... 257

A Look Back at the Aquatic Species Program--Technical Review