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Saturday, October 30, 2010

Key Challenges to Widespread algae based biofuels commercialization

Bharatbook added a new report on “Algae-Based Biofuels” which examines the key growth drivers behind the algae-based biofuels market and outlines unresolved supply challenges.

Algae-Based Biofuels

Demand Drivers, Policy Issues, Emerging Technologies, Key Industry Players, and Global Market Forecasts

In the face of petroleum scarcity, increasing oil prices, market volatility, and climate change, a number of national governments are enacting strong mandates to develop domestic biofuels markets. Meanwhile, as concerns over the sustainability of first generation biofuels intensify, innovative startup companies, strategic partnerships led by large multinationals, and university-led research consortiums are spearheading efforts to develop low-cost and replicable production pathways for advanced biofuels derived from renewable biomass like algae. With no alternative to liquid fuel, the commercial aviation sector and U.S. military are looking to renewable fuel sources such as algae-based biofuels to reduce expenses and mitigate their acute vulnerability to petroleum supply chains.

Yielding 2 to 20 times more oil per acre than leading oilseed crops, algae’s productivity and scalability are its greatest advantages. On paper, algae could displace worldwide petroleum use altogether, however, the industry has yet to produce a drop of oil for commercial production. Although the algae-based biofuels market will grow rapidly once key cost hurdles are overcome, widespread scale-up will be hampered by a number of difficult challenges, including access to nutrients, water, and private capital. With the cost of production still a key obstacle to widespread production, many companies are refocusing production efforts on low-volume, high-value co-products to develop revenue streams over the next decade.

This report examines the key growth drivers behind the algae-based biofuels market and outlines unresolved supply challenges. It compares advantages and disadvantages of algae production pathways, leading cultivation techniques, and end-market opportunities. The report includes detailed 10-year market forecasts, segmented by world region, along with analysis of market conditions in key countries and profiles of key industry players that are shaping the emerging algae biofuels business.

Key questions addressed:

* What are the key drivers shaping demand for algae-based biofuels?
* Where will the highest algae-based biofuels production growth occur around the world?
* What are the different cultivation options for algae producers?
* What investment trends and strategic partnerships are driving growth?
* What are the key regulatory and policy issues facing the industry?
* What are the key challenges to widespread algae-based biofuels commercialization?
* What are the key technology trends emerging in the algae-based biofuels market?
* What role will biotechnology play in improving algae yields and what are the potential challenges to widespread GMO-based algae?
* Who are some of the players involved and what are their strategies?
* What are government emission regulations for locomotives and how will they impact the market?
* How large will the market for hybrid and genset locomotives be globally?
* Who are the key industry players in the hybrid locomotive market?

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