March 2011: The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) IEA Bioenergy has released its “IEA Bioenergy 2010 Annual Report,” with a special feature on “Algal Biofuels Status and Prospects.”

The special feature emphasizes that despite recent enthusiasm over these biofuels, they remain at a pre-commercial ‘proof of concept’ phase, although they warrant investment in further research, development and demonstration. Of the production methods reviewed, authors found that photobioreactors are generally more costly than raceway pond algae production facilities. Other than costs, the report found that the most significant limiting factors affecting algal biofuels are those imposed by the need for climatically favorable locations with suitable land, water, and carbon dioxide resources. Even if these issues are overcome, the report concludes that algal biofuels are unlikely to be able to displace a large fraction of liquid fossil fuels.

The report also discusses progress made in each of IEA Bioenergy’s many Tasks: socioeconomic drivers in implementing bioenergy projects; biomass combustion and co-firing; thermal gasification of biomass; pyrolysis of biomass; the integration of energy recovery into solid waste management; energy from biogas; greenhouse gas (GHG) balances of biomass and bioenergy systems; the commercialization of liquid biofuels from biomass sustainable international bioenergy trade – securing supply and demand; bioenergy systems analysis; biorefineries – co-production of fuels, chemicals, power and materials from biomass; and biomass feedstocks for energy markets. [Publication: IEA Bioenergy 2010 Annual Report]