Large-scale production of biofuels made from algae poses sustainability concerns
Wednesday, October 24, 2012 - 13:02
in Earth & Climate
Scaling up the production of biofuels made from algae to meet at least 5 percent—approximately 39 billion liters—of U.S. transportation fuel needs would place unsustainable demands on energy, water, and nutrients, says a new report from the National Research Council. However, these concerns are not a definitive barrier for future production, and innovations that would require research and development could help realize algal biofuels' full potential.