Algae is an underutilized renewable feedstock due to major commercial barriers. Our project goals were to characterize the current global industry and develop a location assessment methodology for algae production, which was guided by interviews and peer-reviewed reports. Political acceptability, water accessibility, and land usage were identified as critical success factors. The assessment methodology was applied to Gippsland, Australia. Conclusively, algae operations can be financially feasible by pairing high-value and low-value products and/or using wastewater as a growth medium.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Scribner, Jonathan W.
• Makechnie, Kelly M.
• Baker, Emily O.
• Sailer, Meghan A.

Subject

• Energy
• Sustainability
• Industry

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 5811
• E-project-031721-102556

Keyword

• Algae
• Circular Economy
• Coproducts
• Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA)
• Australia
• Biofuel

Advisor

• McCauley, Stephen M.
• Boucher-Yip, Esther

Year

• 2021

Center

• Melbourne, Australia Project Center - IQP

Sponsor

• Snowy River Innovation

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
• 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
• 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
• 13 - Climate Action

Date created

• 2021-03-17

Resource type

• Interactive Qualifying Project

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-05-03