Journal of Marine Biology and Aquaculture

Global warming is a deteriorating international issue linked to the continuous rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) due to an increase in worldwide energy consumption with the burning of fossil fuels[1]. A new alternative and sustainable fuel source must be found to replace fossil fuel uses, and to prevent global energy crisis. Microalgae, a promising biofuel feedstock, with a much greater oil yield than terrestrial oilseed plants, would be the next feasible renewable energy source. Microalgae can assimilate atmospheric CO2 for sequestration so as to reduce greenhouse gases[2,3]. However, more than 3000 kg water is required to produce 1 kg microalgal biofuel. The impact 1Biology Department, The Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 2Centre for Research in Environmental Science, School of Science and Technology, The Open University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong