Biofuels from Algae: Sustainable Energy for the Future

Abstract

Biofuels made from algae are gaining popularity as a viable substitute for fossil fuels due to the increasing need for clean and renewable energy. The fast growth rates, high lipid content, adaptability to various settings, and lack of rivalry with food crops and arable land are some of the ways in which algae—including both microalgae and macroalgae—offer distinct benefits over traditional biofuel feedstocks. Algae are a sustainable feedstock because, unlike their terrestrial biofuel crop counterparts, they can be grown in saltwater or wastewater, on non-arable soil, and in conjunction with carbon dioxide mitigation techniques. More efficient cultivation and lipid extraction of algae has been made possible by advances in biotechnology, genetic engineering, and photobioreactor design. This has led to the generation of biodiesel, bioethanol, biohydrogen, and biogas. Nevertheless, there are still obstacles to overcome in order to commercialize on a wide scale. These include energy-intensive harvesting techniques, technological limits in downstream processing, and high production costs. Algal strain optimization, biofuel production integrated with co-products including nutraceuticals, animal feed, and bioplastics, and research into enhancing cultivation techniques are all areas where research is focusing more and more on making biofuels economically viable. explores the possibilities of algae as a renewable energy source, assesses the technical advances and obstacles linked to the production of algae biofuel, and emphasizes the steps that need to be taken in the future to make this resource a reality in the push for a low-carbon, energy-secure future.