Hossain, N. and Mahlia, T.M.I. and Zaini, J. and Saidur, R. (2019) Techno-economics and Sensitivity Analysis of Microalgae as Commercial Feedstock for Bioethanol Production. Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy, 38 (5): 13157. ISSN 1944-7442
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Abstract
The foremost purpose of this techno-economic analysis (TEA) modeling was to predict a harmonized figure of comprehensive cost analysis for commercial bioethanol generation from microalgae species in Brunei Darussalam based on the conventional market scenario. This model was simulated to set out economic feasibility and probabilistic assumption for large-scale implementations of a tropical microalgae species, Chlorella vulgaris, for a bioethanol plant located in the coastal area of Brunei Darussalam. Two types of cultivation systems such as closed system (photobioreactor—PBR) and open pond approaches were anticipated for a total approximate biomass of 220 t year−1 on 6 ha coastal areas. The biomass productivity was 56 t ha−1 for PBR and 28 t ha−1 for pond annually. The plant output was 58.90 m3 ha−1 for PBR and 24.9 m3 ha−1 for pond annually. The total bioethanol output of the plant was 57,087.58 gal year−1 along with the value added by-products (crude bio-liquid and slurry cake). The total production cost of this project was US$2.22 million for bioethanol from microalgae and total bioethanol selling price was US$2.87 million along with the by-product sale price of US$1.6 million. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to forecast the uncertainty of this conclusive modeling. Different data sets through sensitivity analysis also presented positive impacts of economical and environmental views. This TEA model is expected to be initialized to determine an alternative energy and also minimize environmental pollution. With this current modeling, microalgal-bioethanol utilization mandated with gasoline as well as microalgae cultivation, biofuel production integrated with existing complementary industries, are strongly recommended for future applications. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2019. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers