Table 1.
Energy and material flows. Energy impacts are global averages14 and prices are based on Thailand market prices16,17.
| Inputs | Value (X) | Energy Equiv. (MJ/X) | Energy Impact (MJ/d) | Price ($/X) | Cost/Revenue ($/d) | GHG Impact* (g CO2e/X) |
GHG (g CO2e/d) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cultivation | |||||||
| Water Supply Electricity (MJ/d) | 27,300 | 2.65 | 72,300 | 0.02 | 606 | 175 | 4,770,000 |
| Volume Transfer Electricity (MJ/d) | 7,210 | 2.65 | 19,100 | 0.02 | 160 | 175 | 1,260,000 |
| PBR Airlift Circulation Electricity (MJ/d) | 12,800 | 2.65 | 34,000 | 0.02 | 286 | 175 | 2,250,000 |
| Pond Circulation Electricity (MJ/d) | 33,600 | 2.65 | 89,000 | 0.02 | 746 | 175 | 5,880,000 |
| Nutrient Stock Tank Mixer (MJ/d) | 564 | 2.65 | 1,490 | 0.02 | 12.5 | 175 | 98,700 |
| Carbon Dioxide Consumed (kg/d) | 49,400 | 8.90 | 440,000 | 0.08 | 3,710 | 910 | 45,000,000 |
| Ammonia Consumed (kg/d) | 1,540 | 40.5 | 62,500 | 0.46 | 701 | 2090 | 3,220,000 |
| DAP Consumed (kg/d) | 537 | 28.7 | 15,400 | 0.41 | 221 | 1470 | 790,000 |
| PBR Plastic (m2/d) | 3,060 | 2.01 | 6,160 | 0.47 | 1,440 | 272 | 833,000 |
| Cultivation Energy (MJ/d) | 740,000 | Cultivation Cost ($/d) | 7,880 |
Cultivation GHG
(g CO2e/d) |
64,100,000 | ||
| Harvesting | |||||||
| Pump Secondary Sludge (MJ/d) | 26.7 | 2.65 | 70.6 | 0.02 | 0.59 | 175 | 4,660 |
| Filter Press Operation (MJ/d) | 1,110 | 2.65 | 2,950 | 0.02 | 24.8 | 175 | 195,000 |
| Harvesting Energy (MJ/d) | 3,020 | Harvesting Cost ($/d) | 25.3 |
Harvesting GHG
(g CO2e/d) |
200,000 | ||
| Extraction | |||||||
| Extraction Electricity (MJ/d) | 1,460 | 2.65 | 3,860 | 0.02 | 32.3 | 175 | 255,000 |
| Ethanol (kg/d) | 201 | 45.9 | 9,220 | 0.44 | 87.8 | 1090 | 219,000 |
| Acetyl Chloride (kg/d) | 60.0 | 124 | 7,420 | 0.81 | 48.4 | 7670 | 460,000 |
| Extraction Heat (MJ/d) | 184,000 | 1.30 | 239,000 | 0.005 | 827 | 80 | 14,700,000 |
| Solvent Consumed (kg/d) | 101 | 22.3 | 2,240 | 4.43 | 446 | 320 | 32,200 |
| Cooling Water (m3/d) | 4.47 | 5.00 | 22.3 | 0.61 | 2.74 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Steam (kg/d) | 30.3 | 2.80 | 84.9 | 0.003 | 0.09 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Extraction Energy (MJ/d) | 262,000 | Extraction Cost ($/d) | 1,440 |
Extraction GHG
(g CO2e/d) |
15,700,000 | ||
| Energy Input (MJ/d) | 1,010,000 | Total Cost ($/d) | 9,350 |
Total GHG
(g CO2e/d) |
80,000,000 | ||
| Outputs | |||||||
| Lipids (kg/d) | 6,710 | 53.1 | 356,000 | 1.80 | 12,100 | NA | NA |
| Non-lipid Biomass (kg/d) | 13,500 | 25.1 | 339,000 | 1.40 | 18,900 | NA | NA |
| Total Output for Facility (kg/d) | 20,200 | Energy Output (MJ/d) | 695,000 | Revenue ($/d) | 31,000 | Total Algae Yield (kg/d) | 20,200 |
| EROI | 0.69 | Revenue/Cost (−) | 3.31 | GHG per kg Algae (kg CO2e/kg) | 3.96 | ||
*GHG impacts not shown for PVC (2,090 g CO2e/kg), transport of materials and waste (170 g CO2e/tkm), and waste disposal (130 g CO2e/kg).