Bioenergy Production through Microalgae in Brazil: An Activity Joint with Ethanol Plants of the Country

This paper proposes a process for the production of microalgae for electricity generation, regarded as a joint activity with ethanol in order to meet the expected increase in energy demand caused by economic growth in Brazil. Microalgae are efficient in generating electricity, as by burning a ton of the biomass are generated 8.12 MWh. The production of this alternative energy source in conjunction with an ethanol plant maximizes the production of both, as it reduces the costs of production of microalgae using waste from the ethanol plant and the reduction of idleness of its equipments, furthermore brings benefits the environment, with the microalgae capturing the carbon dioxide emitted by the ethanol plant. The production process proposed sum revenue from carbon credits, selling oxygen and electricity.