Energy Balance Of Third Generation Bioethanol

Abstract

Global greenhouse gas emissions are constantly increasing, despite the partial replacement of fossil fuels by renewable energies. The transport sector is responsible for almost 24% of direct CO2 emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, generating greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for a greater focus of international policies to encourage the production and the use of biofuels. Bioethanol is the most consumed biofuel in the world; it is produced by fermentation from materials rich in sugar (glucose, starch, cellulose). However, the controversy around the use of first and second generation have forced the transition to the third generation based on marine and freshwater algae; the latter have the advantage of being abundant, even invasive, easy to cultivate with good energy potential. This study proposes a life cycle analysis (LCA) of bioethanol production from the macro algae Ulva Lactuca, it was carried out after the introduction of several data into the SimPro8.1 software (e.g. quantity of water, consumed electricity, used chemicals) using the Impact 2002+ methodology. The results show a positive energy balance reflecting high-energy efficiency since the system produces about 1.44 times the energy consumed.