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Energy Return on Investment for Algal Biofuel Production Coupled with Wastewater Treatment
Author(s) -
Beal Colin M.,
Stillwell Ashlynn S.,
King Carey W.,
Cohen Stuart M.,
Berberoglu Halil,
Bhattarai Rajendra P.,
Connelly Rhykka L.,
Webber Michael E.,
Hebner Robert E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143012x13378023685718
Subject(s) - return on investment , biofuel , sewage treatment , production (economics) , investment (military) , environmental science , wastewater , renewable energy , bioenergy , environmental engineering , environmental economics , waste management , engineering , economics , ecology , biology , microeconomics , politics , political science , law
This study presents a second‐order energy return on investment analysis to evaluate the mutual benefits of combining an advanced wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) (with biological nutrient removal) with algal biofuel production. With conventional, independently operated systems, algae production requires significant material inputs, which require energy directly and indirectly, and the WWTP requires significant energy inputs for treatment of the waste streams. The second‐order energy return on investment values for independent operation of the WWTP and the algal biofuels production facility were determined to be 0.37 and 0.42, respectively. By combining the two, energy inputs can be reduced significantly. Consequently, the integrated system can outperform the isolated system, yielding a second‐order energy return on investment of 1.44. Combining these systems transforms two energy sinks to a collective (second‐order) energy source. However, these results do not include capital, labor, and other required expenses, suggesting that profitable deployment will be challenging.