Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Virginia, 351 McCormick Road, Thornton Hall, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA.
Bioresour Technol. 2012 Jan;104:803-6. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.10.077. Epub 2011 Nov 3.
A meta-analysis of several published life cycle assessments of algae-to-energy systems was developed to better understand the environmental implications of deploying this technology at large scales. Taken together, results from these six studies seemed largely inconclusive because of differences in modeling assumptions and system boundaries. To overcome this, the models were normalized using a generic pathway for cultivating algae in open ponds, converting it into biodiesel, and processing the nonlipid fraction using anaerobic digestion. Meta-analysis results suggest that algae-based biodiesel would result in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on par with terrestrial alternatives such as corn ethanol and soy biodiesel. Net energy ratio and normalized greenhouse gas emissions were 1.4 MJ produced/MJ consumed and 0.19 kg CO(2)-equivalent/km traveled, respectively. A scenario analysis underscores the extent to which breakthroughs in key technologies are needed before algae-derived fuels become an attractive alternative to conventional biofuels.
对藻类到能源系统的几个已发表的生命周期评估进行了荟萃分析，以更好地了解在大规模部署这项技术的环境影响。这六项研究的结果由于建模假设和系统边界的不同，总体上似乎没有定论。为了克服这一点，使用开放式池塘培养藻类、将其转化为生物柴油以及使用厌氧消化处理非脂质部分的通用途径对模型进行了归一化。荟萃分析结果表明，基于藻类的生物柴油的能源消耗和温室气体排放与玉米乙醇和大豆生物柴油等陆地替代品相当。净能量比和归一化温室气体排放分别为 1.4MJ 生产/MJ 消耗和 0.19kgCO2-当量/km 行驶。情景分析强调了在藻类衍生燃料成为传统生物燃料的有吸引力的替代品之前，需要在关键技术上取得突破的程度。
