Sustainable Approaches to Algal Biofuels: Opportunities, Key Challenges and Current Status

As fossil fuel reserves dwindle and the concerns over pollution, global warming and soaring fuel prices exaggerate, the perseverance for renewable energy sources becomes paramount. Algae-based biofuels emerge as an excellent alternative to conventional fossil fuels, leveraging their inherent photosynthetic efficiency, rapid growth rate, minimal land and water requirements in comparison to conventional crops, and superior quality and quantity of biomass yield rich in carbohydrates and lipids. The produced biomass can be used for producing diverse array of biofuels like bioethanol, biomethane, biohydrogen and biodiesel. However, despite their potential opportunistic limitations and challenges persist, notably in production scalability and research focus limited to selection and lab scale cultivation of algal species. This chapter comprehensively explore the opportunities, challenges and economic viability of algal biofuels. From delving into the generations of biofuels to highlighting algae as a third-generation feedstock, it scrutinizes cultivation and harvesting techniques, elucidates various biofuel production opportunities, and addresses engineering for production scale-up. Also, the chapter seeks to address critical limitations inhibiting widespread adoption by evaluating the economic landscape and challenges. By spotlighting these facets, it aspires to catalyse further research and technological advancements in algal biofuel generation, propelling the field towards a sustainable, impactful future.