Scale-up of microalgal systems for decarbonization and bioproducts: Challenges and opportunities

[Display omitted] •Microalgal CCU technology shows promise in mitigating global climate issues.•Challenges are identified in the scaling-up process of microalgal CCU.•It is challenging to cover the microalgae production cost only via carbon trading.•Microalgae-derived products enhance the economic viability of microalgal CCU.•AI automation will significantly reduce the cost of microalgae cultivation. The threat of global climate change presents a significant challenge for humanity. Microalgae-based carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology has emerged as a promising solution to this global issue. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the current advancements in scale-up of microalgae cultivation and its applications, specifically focusing on decarbonization from flue gases, organic wastewater remediation, and biogas upgrading. The study identifies critical challenges that need to be addressed during the scale-up process and evaluates the economic viability of microalgal CCU within the carbon market. Additionally, it analyzes the commercial status of microalgae-derived products and highlights those with high market demand. This review serves as a crucial resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to develop and implement innovative approaches to enhance the efficiency of microalgae-based CO2 utilization while addressing the challenges associated with the scale-up of microalgae technologies.