Renewable energy Sources in different Generations of Bio-fuels with special Emphasis on Microalgae Derived Biodiesel as Sustainable industrial fuel Model

Sunny Bindra¹, Rashmi Sharma¹, Azhar Khan¹ and Saurabh Kulshrestha¹

Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Bajhol, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Corresponding Author  E-mail: saurabh_kul2000@yahoo.co.in

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2443

ABSTRACT: Today the most quandary situation in the world is to fulfil growing energy demand without impeding environmental balance. Rising population growth has led to the increase in world energy demand. However, the fossil fuel reserves are deteriorating at a faster rate. So, biofuels derived from biological materials through contemporary biological processes serve as an alternative choice to replace the existing demand of fossil fuels. These biofuels have basic renewable origin which set them apart from the fossil fuels. There are three categories; first, second and third generation biofuels depending upon the source crop and technology involved in energy generation. Of the three generations, first generation derived from food crops, second generation from non-food crops and third generation biofuels consist of microalgae-derived biofuels. This article reviews the various energy sources used during different generations of biofuels along with microalgae derived biodiesel production. Various constraints and concerns are associated with first and second generation biofuels and it has been observed that, microalgae derived biofuels, can be developed as more reliable and sustainable energy source to fulfil the world energy demand in future. They have a number of advantages over their counterparts such as non-feedstock, high growth rate with higher biomass yield, possess oils with higher lipid content and possibility of utilizing waste as well as salt water for growth. In addition to energy source, microalgae can provide various types of economic by-products adding to their advantages. In the future, the technology as well as algal strains should be improved to increase the energy efficiency and create economic as well as environmental benefits so as to plan a road map for the industries to produce third-generation biofuels.

KEYWORDS: Biofuel; biodiesel; generations; microalgae; renewable

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