Potential production and distribution of microalgae in China

Abstract

Microalgae are considered a promising biofuel resource to fix carbon dioxide (CO2), which can support social development and environmental improvement in the future. In this paper, characteristics of microalgae growth with two parameters of solar radiation and ambient temperature are investigated based on industrial-scale microalgae bulk growth model of Quinn et al. By using this model, the potential biomass production of microalgae in China is estimated based on data of the available untilled lands and the weather to be 7.38 × 109 tonnes. This is 2.4 times larger than China's energy consumption of 3.08 × 109 tonnes standard coal equivalent in 2010, and satisfies that predicted with an exponentially increasing trend for 2020, and 89% of the amount predicted for 2030. The annual total CO2 emissions reduced is estimated to be 13.5 × 109 tonnes, which can improve the natural environment besides supplying sustainable production in China.