Recent progress towards the implementation of renewable bioenergy
production has included microalgae, which have potential to significantly contribute to
a viable future bioeconomy. In a current challenging energy landscape, where an
increased demand for renewable fuels is projected and accompanied by plummeting
fossil fuels’ prices, economical production of algae-based fuels becomes more
challenging. However, in the context of mitigating carbon emissions with the potential
of algae to assimilate large quantities of CO2, there is a route to drive carbon
sequestration and utilization to support a sustainable and secure global energy future.
This chapter places international energy policy in the context of the current and
projected energy landscape. The contribution that algae can make, is summarized as
both a conceptual contribution as well as an overview of the commercial infrastructure
installed globally. Some of the major recent developments and crucial technology
innovations are the results of global government support for the development of algaebased
bioenergy, biofuels and bioproduct applications, which have been awarded as
public private partnerships and are summarized in this chapter.
Keywords: Algae, Biomass, Renewable Fuels, Carbon Capture and Utilization,
Future Energy Outlook, Commercial and Research Operations.
