We analyze water‐energy tradeoffs for hypothetical algae production for biofuel feedstock in the US‐Mexico middle Rio Grande watershed with a coupled water, salinity, and algae biomass balance model. Suitable areas for algae cultivation in the region are selected and associated with fresh or brackish groundwater sources. We examine the potential of using two algae species with markedly different energy content and tolerance to salinities. Location‐specific water quality and time‐varying climate variables were important when analyzing water‐energy tradeoffs for each species. In this regional study, water demand rates for the salinity‐tolerant species were similar to rates for conventional local crops, whereas the salinity‐sensitive species’ values exceeded local demand rates. Optimizing the spatial selection of species resulted in water footprint reductions of as much as 18%. Water demand rates and footprints are highly sensitive to salinity and temperature tolerance and thus local variations in water quality and seasonal variations in climate. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Modeling water‐energy tradeoffs for cultivating algae for biofuels in a semi‐arid region with fresh and brackish water supplies
A. Mayer,H. Tavakoli,Ceily Fessel Doan,A. Heidari,R. Handler
Published 2020 in Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2020
- Venue
Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining
- Publication date
2020-09-12
- Fields of study
Environmental Science
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- algae species
The two candidate algae types compared for biofuel feedstock production in the regional assessment.
Aliases: algal species
- conventional local crops
Existing crops in the region used as a reference point for comparing water demand.
Aliases: local crops
- coupled water, salinity, and algae biomass balance model
A linked modeling framework that tracks water availability, salinity conditions, and algae biomass production in the study region.
Aliases: coupled model, water-salinity-biomass model
- fresh or brackish groundwater sources
Groundwater supplies considered for supporting algae cultivation, spanning both low-salinity and moderately saline water.
Aliases: fresh groundwater, brackish groundwater, groundwater sources
- location-specific water quality
The local water-quality conditions at candidate cultivation locations, including salinity-related differences across the watershed.
Aliases: local water quality
- salinity-sensitive algae species
The algae species in the comparison that is less able to tolerate saline water conditions.
Aliases: salinity-sensitive species
- salinity tolerance
The ability of an algae species to withstand saline water conditions.
Aliases: salt tolerance
- salinity-tolerant algae species
The algae species in the comparison that can better withstand saline water conditions.
Aliases: salinity-tolerant species
- spatial selection of species
The choice of which algae species to place at which locations within the study region.
Aliases: species placement, spatial species selection
- suitable cultivation areas
Regions in the US-Mexico middle Rio Grande watershed identified as appropriate for algae cultivation.
Aliases: suitable areas, cultivation areas
- temperature tolerance
The ability of an algae species to remain viable under different temperature conditions.
Aliases: heat tolerance
- time-varying climate variables
Climate inputs that change over time and affect the modeled cultivation conditions, including seasonal variation.
Aliases: seasonal climate variables, climate variables
- water demand rates
The modeled rates of water use associated with algae cultivation under the evaluated conditions.
Aliases: demand rates, water-use rates
- water-energy tradeoffs
The balance between water use and energy-related suitability when producing algae for biofuels.
Aliases: water-energy balance
- water footprint
The amount of water associated with producing algae biomass for biofuel feedstock in the modeled setting.
Aliases: water demand footprint, footprint
REFERENCES
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CITED BY
Showing 1-9 of 9 citing papers · Page 1 of 1