Survey of Studies on Renewable Energy Production by Microalgae

Energy is the mainstay of modern industry and the motivity of sustainable development for national economy.The bio-energy,as one form of renewable energy with wide resource,its application could not only relax the energy crises but also restrain the environmental pollution.Many species of microalgae are known for their high content of lipids in the cells,and can be used for production of biodiesel;some microalgae are able to accumulate a lot of hydrocarbon which can be made into gasoline or diesel,and some of them can produce hydrogen in some case.With the advantages of easy to cultivate,fast growth,high biomass production and rich in lipids and hydrocarbon,microalgae is an important resource of bio-energy.Consequently,governments of many countries,scientists and enterprisers have paid much attention to the research and development of algal renewable energy.This paper summarized the present progress of using microalgae to produce hydrogen,hydrocarbon and lipids.The main problems and strategies for renewable energy production by microalgae were discussed,and the prospect of research and development of renewable energy production by microalgae in China was expected.