Water not an issue for algae biofuels

May 23, 2013 | By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Land and water resources in the U.S. could likely support the growth of enough algae to produce up to 25 billion gallons of algae-based fuel a year -- one-twelfth of the country's yearly needs, according to research from the U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

The research focuses on actual water supplies and looks at a range of possible sources of water, including fresh groundwater, salty or saline groundwater, and seawater. The team estimates that up to 25 billion gallons of algae oil could be produced annually -- an increase of 4 billion gallons over a previous study's estimate or enough to fill the nation's current oil needs for one month about 600 million barrels each year.

The best places to produce algae for fuel are hot, humid and wet. The Gulf Coast and Southeastern seaboard look especially promising.

"The Gulf Coast offers a good combination of warm temperatures, low evaporation, access to an abundance of water, and plenty of fuel-processing facilities," said hydrologist Mark Wigmosta, the leader of the research team.

The availability of water has been one of the biggest concerns regarding the adoption of broad-scale production of algae biofuel. Scientists estimate that fuel created with algae would use much more water than industrial processes used to harness energy from oil, wind, sunlight, or most other forms of raw energy.

To produce 25 billion gallons of algae oil, the team estimates that the process annually would require the equivalent of about one-quarter of the amount of water that is now used each year in the entire U.S. for agriculture. That's a lot of water, but it would come from a variety of sources, including fresh groundwater, salty groundwater and seawater.

"While there are many details still to be worked out, we don't see water issues as a deal breaker for the development of an algae biofuels industry in many areas of the country," said report author Erik Venteris of PNNL.

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