Economic Benefits of Algae
Growing algae for biofuel not only provides a viable source of alternative energy, but also yields significant economic benefits.
Minimal land use
Algae require much less land than traditional row crops, such as corn. In addition, algae can grow on non-arable, nutrient-poor land that won’t support conventional agriculture.
High yielding
Algae grow quickly at a large scale and can potentially generate up to 50 times more the amount of oil per acre than row crops, like corn and soybeans, which produce vegetable oil.
Non-competitive with agriculture
Production of algae for biofuel doesn’t require arable land needed for food production, fresh water for irrigation, or application of petroleum-based fertilizers. Algae farms can thrive and expand without taking land that’s needed for crops.
Renewable energy usage
Sunlight is the original source of all liquid fuels. Algae use photosynthesis to capture sunlight energy to produce oxygen and carbohydrates, creating a natural biomass oil product.
Security
Algae biofuels create a sustainable pathway to energy independence.
Additional benefits
- See these additional benefits of growing algae to produce biofuel:
- Environmental Benefits
- Societal Benefits
