Mapping the performance of photobioreactors for microalgae cultivation: geographic position and local climate

BACKGROUND Over 90% of microalgae cultivations on a commercial scale are grown in outdoor systems, which means that the performance of these bioprocesses is dependent on the climatic conditions in each particular locality. Thus, the selection of suitable locations according to their climatic conditions is extremely important to develop technically and economically viable processes. This study aimed to assess the influence of geographic position and local climate on the microalgae culture performance in photobioreactors, as a strategy to map potential regions for commercial‐scale microalgae production. Six extreme positions of Brazil were chosen to represent their respective climates in the four seasons of the year. RESULTS The climatic variables considered were temperature, light irradiance, and photoperiod. In terms of both biomass and lipid production in an annual overview, the results showed that tropical climates and low latitudes favor the microalgae culture. The highest annual average biomass productivity (0.278 g L−1 d−1) and annual average lipid productivity (0.056 g L−1 d−1) were recorded in Boa Vista‐RR (02° 49′ 12″ N), in summer. CONCLUSION The geographic position and the local climate are decisive criteria in the performance of these processes, being able to increase up to three and four times the biomass productivity and lipid productivity, respectively. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry