Indicators for Assessing the Sustainability of Microalgae Production

Sustainability studies on microalgae focus on high energy demand in the production process, which frequently leads to a negative energy balance. In doing so, other sustainability aspects, such as land use, carbon, nutrient and water demand, and socio-economic features such as the creation of new jobs and acceptance are neglected. By employing an integrative concept of sustainability, a systematic and holistic evaluation of sustainability is feasible and conflicts between sustainability targets can be discovered. In this article, an appropriate set of sustainability criteria and indicators for microalgae production is presented and preliminary clues are drawn regarding sustainability challenges and conflicts which should be taken into consideration in the further development of technology.1