Abstract
Abstract The rate of depletion of fossil fuels triggered the global community to look for different non-conventional energy sources. In this line, numerous recently discovered renewable energy sources are being investigated for their potential to serve as sustainable fuel sources. Among them, biofuel production technologies are emerging as a key solution to this energy crisis since it has mass production capacity through environment friendly techniques. The first-generation biofuel involves the utilization of food crops, such as sugar cane, sugar beet and some edible oils, however, it arises a question of food or fuel crisis in consumption chain. The second-generation biofuel replaced the usage of food crops with non-edible lignocellulose feedstocks, such as agricultural wastes and non-food crops. Even though it reduced the usage of food crops for the fuel production, the sources for the second-generation biofuel are non-reliable; infusing pressure on land utility for the cultivation of non-food crops. In essence, microalgal biomass represents a third-generation biofuel feedstock that addresses many limitations of first and second-generation biofuels. The potential of micro algae for biofuel production at cheap cost without environmental damage, as well as their ability to grow in large quantities even in limited area, raise hopes for biofuels as a potential future energy source. Its inherent renewability, sustainable cultivation practices, and the potential for a multi-product biorefinery approach, microalgae represent a valuable resource for advancing global bioenergy production and promoting a more sustainable future. Microalgae are rich in lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins that can be converted into various bioenergy products, such as biodiesel, bioethanol, biogas, and biohydrogen. Their high lipid content, in particular, makes them an exceptional candidate for biodiesel production, with certain species accumulating up to 50–70% of their dry weight as lipids under optimized condition. While challenges related to large-scale cultivation and cost-effective downstream processing persist, ongoing research and technological advancements are enhancing the feasibility of microalgae as a cornerstone of the bioenergy landscape. In view of this review has been articulated toward to look over the prominence of microalgae as an alternative futuristic biofuel resource. Herein, emphasis is given on recent microalgae research outcomes on design of microalgae cultivation systems, conditions that impact the biomass yield, harvesting strategies, and various approaches of biofuel production from the microalgae biomass.
NETL
NSTL
Springer Nature