Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6686756 | Applied Energy | 2015 | 9 Pages |
Abstract
The annual productivity of Tetraselmis suecica in a 1-ha Green Wall Panel-II (GWP-II) plant in Tuscany (Italy) is 36 t (dry weight) haâ1 yearâ1, which corresponds to an energy output of 799 GJ haâ1 yearâ1. The energy inputs necessary to attain that productivity amount to 1362 GJ haâ1 yearâ1, mainly given by the embodied energy of the reactor (about 30%), mixing (about 40%), fertilizers (11%) and harvesting (10%). The Net Energy Ratio (NER) of T. suecica production is thus 0.6. In a more suitable location (North Africa) productivity nearly doubles, reaching 66 t haâ1 yearâ1, but the NER increases only by 40% and the gain (difference between output and inputs) remains negative. In a GWP-II integrated with photovoltaics (PV), the NER becomes 1.7 and the gain surpasses 600 GJ haâ1 yearâ1. Marine microalgae cultivation in a GWP plant, in a suitable location, can attain high biomass productivities and protein yields 30 times higher than those achievable with traditional crops (soya). When the GWP reactor is integrated with PV, the process attains a positive energy balance, which substantially enhances its sustainability.
Keywords
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Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Authors
M.R. Tredici, N. Bassi, M. Prussi, N. Biondi, L. Rodolfi, G. Chini Zittelli, G. Sampietro,