Evaluation and Advantages of Algae as an Energy Source

Abstract

Primary energy consumption is increasing gradually together with population growth,urbanization and industrialization in the world. It is known that most of the energy used throughoutthe world is obtained from fossil fuels called primary energy sources such as coal, petroleum andnatural gas. Within this context, the more the humanity continue to search for sustainabledevelopment and better living conditions, the more the renewable energy production will be a priorityin whole world. As a result of all these, renewable energy sources used in the world today areclassified as solar, wind, wave and geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass and hydrogen energies.Biomass energy, depending upon agriculture within the context of alternative energy politics, hasfound a wide range of application field in all over the world with its properties which targetdevelopment and provide eco-friendly, sustainable energy production and environmentalmanagement. However, biofuel production that increases along with agricultural potential andtechnological levels of the countries brings about some crucial debates with itself. In this case,scientists express that algal biomasses, defined as third generation fuel, might be an alternativeenergy source; and that they have a lot of advantages. In recent years, algae have started to beseen as a promising energy source as a result of biomass energy researches accelerated due toincreasing oil prices. The studies, in which biofuels such as biodiesel, renewable aviation fuel/biojetfuel, biogasoline/green gasoline, biobutanol, bioethanol, and methane are obtained from algalbiomass, have enhanced widely. Algae are potentially best-yielding product that can be produced inlarge quantities of biofuels. This microscopic plant can be produced in dirty water, saltwater, desertsand in environments unsuitable for any other plant. Because they connect the carbon dioxide in theenvironment, it is produced especially around the power plants, thus reducing the damage causedby the carbon dioxide from the plants. One of the most important advantages of algae is that theamount of oil obtained is very high. Moreover, it is one of the other advantages that they are notaffected by changing climate conditions and can be produced in high quantities in a short period oftime.