Algae biofuel market to be worth $10.7bn by 2025
Dwindling fossil fuel resources and a growing awareness for environmental protection are set to drive the global algae biofuel market to a value of $10.73bn by 2025, according to a report by Grand View Research. It found transport fuel would account for more than 70% of total demand, with growth anticipated in the US, Europe and Asia. Although algae has been found to offer up to 20x higher yields than current biofuel feedstocks, obstacles include ensuring consistency of algae biomass cultivation, the large amounts of water required, high initial capital requirements and a lack of technological innovation.

The global algae biofuel market is expected to reach US$10.73 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Depleting fossil fuel resources as well as rising awareness towards environment protection is expected to be the key factor for driving industry growth.

Algae has the ability to offer 2 to 20 times higher yield than existing biofuel feedstock including corn stover, corn, sorghum and beet, which is likely to open new avenues for the industry growth over the projected period. Increasing research and development (R&D) conducted by numerous startup companies, as well as various oil and gas majors, and university-led research consortiums are expected to propel production of the over the projected period. However, technological challenges and high capital investment in algae biomass and fuel production are expected to limit the industry growth.

Growing demand for low cost, reliable and sustainable energy sources to ease acute vulnerability to petroleum supply chain and meet the rising fuel demand by automotive and aviation sector is expected to have a positive impact on the industry growth over the forecast period. The industry is experiencing three major hurdles including maintaining algae biomass cultivation consistency across various regions and climates, high water demand for algae production and lack of technology innovation to commercial scale up. As a result, the market is expected to foresee regional partnerships and collaborations to capitalise the production and technology exchange for large scale productions.

Further key findings from the report suggest:

Transportation is expected to dominate the algae biofuel market accounting over 70% of the overall demand by 2025, owing to its high potential to replace diesel and gasoline in automotive vehicles.

In Europe, the demand for the product in transportation application is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% from 2018 to 2025. High demand for biodiesel in the European countries owing to the government regulations and high adoption rate in the region is expected to propel industry growth.

North America is expected to be the largest market accounting over 30%, owing to high investment by the start-up companies and the US government to support renewable energy sector over.

Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 8% to reach the revenue of over 2 billion by 2025, owing rapid technological advancements and low raw material costs in the region.

In 2010, the US-based Solazyme, Inc. delivered over 36 000 l of 100% algae-derived biofuel to the US Navy, for testing and certification purpose, which was seen as key step towards product commercialisation.