Microalgal Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Capture and Utilization from the European Union Perspective

Marcin Zieliński, Marcin Dębowski, Joanna Kazimierowicz and Izabela Świca
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Marcin Zieliński: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Marcin Dębowski: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland
Joanna Kazimierowicz: Department of Water Supply and Sewage Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland
Izabela Świca: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-27

Abstract: The increasing concentration of anthropogenic CO 2 in the atmosphere is causing a global environmental crisis, forcing significant reductions in emissions. Among the existing CO 2 capture technologies, microalgae-guided sequestration is seen as one of the more promising and sustainable solutions. The present review article compares CO 2 emissions in the EU with other global economies, and outlines EU’s climate policy together with current and proposed EU climate regulations. Furthermore, it summarizes the current state of knowledge on controlled microalgal cultures, indicates the importance of CO 2 phycoremediation methods, and assesses the importance of microalgae-based systems for long-term storage and utilization of CO 2 . It also outlines how far microalgae technologies within the EU have developed on the quantitative and technological levels, together with prospects for future development. The literature overview has shown that large-scale take-up of technological solutions for the production and use of microalgal biomass is hampered by economic, technological, and legal barriers. Unsuitable climate conditions are an additional impediment, forcing operators to implement technologies that maintain appropriate temperature and lighting conditions in photobioreactors, considerably driving up the associated investment and operational costs.

Keywords: carbon dioxide emission; CO 2 capture; biosequestration; microalgae; long-term utilization; phycoremediation; fit for 55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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