Industrial microalgae: do not shoot ahead!


  
 

 

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This is an author’s version published in: http://oatao.univ-toulouse.fr/23261 

 

To cite this version:  

Vaca-Garcia, Carlos  Industrial microalgae: do not shoot ahead! (2011) 

Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 5 (6). 593-594. ISSN 1932-104X  

Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.343 

 

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Industrial microalgae: 
do not shoot ahead!

Author info: Professor Carlos Vaca-Garcia, National Polytechnic Institute of Toulouse, France 

Coordinator of the ALGORAFFINERIE French Consortium.

Contact: Carlos Vaca Garcia  [Carlos.VacaGarcia@ensiacet.fr]

Convincing the 

public that the 

‘ microalgae 

miracle’ is 

right here can 

 ultimately be 

 detrimental 

to this 

 extraordinarily 

promising 

industry

I
n the present energy crisis, microalgae seem to be a new Eldorado. Th ey can 
produce biofuel as they consume CO2. Th ere is a big risk in promising too 
much, however, because the production of energy from microalgae has not yet 

been demonstrated to be economically realistic, at least in a free market. Many 
technological challenges still remain and there are serious doubts about the 
availability of algal fuel on a large scale in the next few years.

We have to be cautious about the spectacular announcements of the  economical 
attractiveness or the potential energy yield of these cells. Th ere are oft en  articles 
in the mass media talking about miraculous solutions to the energy situation 
 promising such unrealistic yields that even the laws of thermodynamics are 
blasted out. But let’s remind ourselves that the photosynthetic conversion of 
energy can create a theoretical maximum of about 400 metric tons of biomass 
per  hectare per year with intertropical solar radiation. In practice, it is as low as 
108 × 103 kg.ha-1.yr-1  (44 ton.ac-1.yr-1) in most European countries or in the USA.

Indeed, microalgae are a new type of biomass for new industrial applications. 
But we also have to consider their other applications: answering to essential 
 nutritional needs and playing the role of pre-purifi ed feedstock for the production 
of active molecules aimed at drugs and cosmetics. All this comes in addition to 
the original energy purposes. A systemic approach to the culture and refi nery of 
microalgae is therefore essential. Th is approach should integrate the production 
of biofuels and by-products to invest in other outlets: such as the applications 

This communication is co-signed by Jean JENCK, Olivier LEPINE, Claude GUDIN (AlgoSource Technologies), Jean-Jacques 

CABOCHE (F&M, Italie), Jack LEGRAND, Jérémy PRUVOST (GEPEA St-Nazaire), Gilles PELTIER, Laurent COURNAC (CEA), 

Jean-François CORNET, Gilles DUSSAP (LGCB Clermont-Ferrand).



already mentioned and even new ones, such as biomaterials and organic frames 
for nanostructures. 

We have to avoid a deadlock and avoid the diffi  culties we saw with the fi rst 
generation of biofuels due to their competition with food resources. Convincing 
the public that the ‘microalgae miracle’ is right here can ultimately be detrimental 
to this extraordinarily promising industry. Let’s protect it. Th e best of the years 
are yet to come.

Carlos Vaca-Garcia
DOI: 10.1002/bbb.343