A technoeconomic assessment of microalgal culture technology implementation for combined wastewater treatment and CO2 mitigation in the Arabian Gulf

Abstract

A technoeconomic assessment (TEA) has been conducted of the feasibility of large-scale application of microalgal culture technology (MCT) to the combined mitigation of CO2 emissions from flue gases and nutrient discharges from wastewater in the Arabian Gulf. The assessment has incorporated the selection of the algal species and MCT technologies, the extent of nutrient removal, and the biomass/biofuel production rate. The cost benefit of the abatement of pollutants (in the form of CO2 and nutrient discharges) was included by assigning appropriate credits to these contributions. The overall economic viability was quantified as the break-even selling price (BESP) of the generated biocrude, taken to be the price at which the product must sell to cover the operating expenditure (OPEX). Based on available information and optimal operational conditions, the BESP was calculated as being $0.544 per kg biomass, equating to $0.9 L-1 for the extracted biocrude, the credited items contributing ~14% of this figure. The BESP was found to be most sensitive to the algal growth rate µ, the BESP changing by ±24% in response to a ±20% change in µ. Whilst the terms of reference of the study are limited to OPEX contributors, the potential for sustainability associated with the innately reliably high levels of natural light in the Gulf region appear to provide auspicious circumstances for large-scale implementation of MCT. For emerging economies with a comparable climate but without a mineral oil-based economy a greater financial benefit from the proposed scheme would arise.

Performance analysis of hybrid solar chimney–power plant for power production and seawater desalination: A sustainable approach

“…The use of traditional fossil fuels (eg, oil and coal), for energy production, causes the emissions of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) 6 and contribute to the global warming (GW). 7,8 These are major environmental challenges that affect public health and the wellbeing of individuals. 3,[9][10][11][12] Therefore, the attention of the scientific community was diverted toward sustainable, renewable, and clean energy resources that can replace existing internal combustion engines [13][14][15][16][17] and mitigate the emissions of GHGs.…”

Wastewater treatment by microalgae

“…Companies like HydroMentia, OneWater , and Gross‐Wen Technologies all commercialize wastewater treatment solutions based on immobilized microalgae (or a combination microalgae/bacteria) with various configurations (Wollmann et al, 2019). However, a huge number of different factors are affecting microalgal growth and the removal of nutrients from wastewater (Al Ketife et al, 2019).…”

CO2 Utilization Technologies in Europe: A Short Review

“…They found that in this context the break-even selling price is 0.49 € per kg algal biomass, equating to 0.81 € per L for the extracted biocrude (adjusted value), and they reported the high sensitivity to the algal growth rate. [151] Thus, biomass productivity is seen as the major factor impacting the unit production cost. As suggested by Meylan et al, [115] the algae pathway can also be considered within the framework of an integrated biorefinery to become economically more viable.…”

“…Nevertheless, they indicated that the economic viability of large‐scale algal biofuel production depends on a significant decrease in equipment costs (e.g., photobioreactors) and/or public policy intervention, and is limited by the long‐term availability of phosphorus. [ 150 ] More recently, Ketife et al [ 151 ] conducted a TEA to evaluate the feasibility of a microalgal culture technology large‐scale application, that combined CO 2 flue‐gas bio fixation and wastewater treatment in the Arabian Gulf. They found that in this context the break‐even selling price is 0.49 € per kg algal biomass, equating to 0.81 € per L for the extracted biocrude (adjusted value), and they reported the high sensitivity to the algal growth rate.…”