File:Algaenious Labs - Microalgae Biorefinery LCA.pdf

English: Increasing pressure on resource availability due to a growing world population and climate change has raised concerns over the durability and sustainability of current production pathways, calling for urgent climate action. The pressing need to transition away from conventional production pathways is becoming more prevalent in order to reach ambitious climate goals. Algae has proven to be a promising candidate because of its ability to grow in low-quality water sources, its fast reproduction rate, and its high protein, lipid and ethanol concentration. A startup called Algaenious Labs unleashes the potential of algae to produce lipids, ethanol and protein. The OpenLCA Life cycle assessment conducted in this report will reveal the carbon footprint of Algaenious Labs using algae as an alternate feedstock. The report will compare the carbon footprint of using alternate feedstocks such as corn and algae produced from Algaenious Labs in hopes of facilitating deducing the sustainable alternative source to produce ethanol, lipids and protein in the transition to a cleaner and greener world