BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN BRAZIL AND USA: IS ALGAE THE SOLUTION?

1. BIOFUEL PRODUCTION IN BRAZIL AND USA: IS ALGAE THE SOLUTION? Fernanda Martinelli & Alberto Abrantes fe.smartinelli@gmail.com Federal University of Viçosa (Brazil) Introduction Brazil x USA Biofuel in USA Why Algae? Conclusions Algae + Sugar Cane Ethanol Support Biofuel in Brazil Bioenergy is one of the most important components to mitigate manmade greenhouse gases emissions and to provide alternative to fossil fuels. Biomass is one of the better sources of energy and various biomasses have been identified as such alternatives, that ranges from energy crop plants to algae. Biofuels from algae feedstock are gaining interest in the recent years to the possibilities of using algae as a source of bio-oil and biogas for energy applications. Algae are basically a large and diverse group of typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multi-cellular forms. The unicellular forms has been highlighted in the production of biodiesel due to its higher growth rate and concentration of lipids (oil). Sugar cane crop in Brazil Brazil’s historical trend alcohol production by ethanol type - 1990 2008 Source: MAPA Brazil In recent years, the country’s integrated energy firm Petrobras begins to invest in research to algae biofuel large-scale production, in partnership with federal universities. Brazil has ideal conditions for the production of microalgae, especially in Northeast. Besides, microalgae found along the Brazilian coast have high lipids concentration for biofuel production. Brazil has gained credibility in recent years. Economic and structural reforms are leading the country into a new position among the other countries. In biofuels production, Brazil is the world's largest producer and the world’s second largest ethanol producer, with large investment in cane sugar technology.The soy is the main feedstock of biodiesel in Brazil, which is already present in Brazilian gas stations, at a rate of 3% mixed with diesel oil. Source: Biodiesel 2020: A Global Market Survey, 2nd Edition Advantages of biofuel production from crop plants versusmicroalgae Source: Zabochnicka-Świątek (2010) The United States is the world's largest ethanol producer. The country produces mainly biodiesel and ethanol fuel, which uses corn as the main feedstock. The US, together with Brazil accounted for 88% percent of world fuel ethanol production. Biodiesel is commercially available in most oilseed-producing states, though it is still commonly produced in relatively small quantities. Recent initiatives suggests that federal funding for algal biofuel research are increasing in USA. State funding programs and private investment also have helped to develop algal-based fuels.  There is great synergy between the processes of production of sugar and ethanol from sugar cane and production of biodiesel from microalgae biomass, which would help in transform sugar mills into true biorefineries. In addition, the use of biodiesel in their own trucks and equipment of the mill would significantly reduce agricultural costs. American companies have invested in sugar mills in Brazil in order to unite these two processes. Brazil and USA are investing heavily in the development of biofuel from algae because they know that this alternative is possible. The perspective is that in five years there will be companies producing biofuel from algae on a large scale.With the advancement of research and technology, is only a matter of time to biofuel production from algae become economically viable at a scale sufficient to help contribute to world’s fuel demand and replace fossil fuels in the future . Source: CleantechGroup(San Francisco) Annual average Solar Radiation: resource availability for algal-cultivation Source: US Geological Survey Hydrologic Investigations, Atlas HA-199 (1965).