A GIS-based national assessment is being conducted to evaluate the potential for microalgae biofuel production. Microalgal biomass productivities are being estimated for different types of microalgae (fresh-water versus brackish and salt-tolerant) cultured in open ponds with varying salinity and mineral content in different climatic zones (i.e., solar radiation, temperature). Spatial and temporal information on critical resource demands and constraints are being developed from a combination of best available data and multi-scale spatial water and energy balance modeling. Estimated water requirements for operating microalgal ponds for biofuels production include water losses due to evaporation, ?blowdown? (required to maintain salinity levels at acceptable levels) and losses in harvesting and processing. Site specific sustainable production rates will be evaluated based on climatic conditions, land, and consumptive water requirements for microalgae, and competing uses for available land, water, and nutrients. Expected results include scalable data and models to assess optimal locations for microalgae production from regional to site-specific scales.
