Eventos Anais de eventos
COBEM 2021
26th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering
MICROALGAE AS SOURCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY: A REVIEW
Submission Author:
Beatriz Jacob Furlan , PR , Brazil
Co-Authors:
Beatriz Jacob Furlan, Pedro Siqueira Zatta, Rafael Silva Ribeiro Gonçalves, Paulo Alexandre Silveira da Silva, Lauber Martins, Juan Ordonez, JOSÉ VIRIATO COELHO VARGAS, André Bellin Mariano
Presenter: Beatriz Jacob Furlan
doi://10.26678/ABCM.COBEM2021.COB2021-0548
Abstract
Microalgae are photosynthetic single-celled microorganisms that have instigated interest in many kinds of scientific research, mainly because of their versatility in several applications. They are capable of promoting the generation of electric energy, by converting the thermal energy released during incineration, via, for example, the Rankine Cycle. They are used as nutritional additives in fish and pet food, or even in nutritional bars for human consumption. Microalgae can act as agents for bioremediation and mitigation of pollutants, through the treatment of effluents, reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, and also can be a solution for a more adequate disposal of agro-industrial waste. However, one of the biggest scenarios for contemplating the applications of microalgae is the context of renewable energy, mostly in the composition of biofuels, such as ethanol, biodiesel, biobutanol, biomethane, biohydrogen, and even syngas. Energy conversion from sustainable sources has increasingly attracted attention, for example, the United Nations (UN), in 2015, proposed the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” as a priority to be achieved, from the 169 goals, that make up part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals. Within these objectives, those that chiefly contemplate the themes of accessible and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and combating climate change stand out. Furthermore, in 2020 Brazil launched the “2050 National Energy Plan” (PNE), whose objective is the long-term planning of the country's energy sector, working specially with global energy generation trends aiming to apply them domestically before 2050. From these, microalgae represent a possible path to new sustainable energy resources, since they meet the criteria for biofuel generation. This work presents a general overview of the research related to the market for biofuels derived from microalgae from the cultivation process until the biochemical synthesis routes, including different means through which biomass may be processed according to the final intended product, and how much it can affect the green economy, aiming to impact the global market.
Keywords
renewable energy, sustainability, Biofuels, microalgae, renewable resources
