It is possible to produce algae based biofuels, but what is/are the likely limitation(s) of developing countries in promoting this industry?
- 1.Production of algae based biofuels is possible in seas only and not on continents.
- 2.Setting up and engineering the algae based biofuel production requires high level of expertise/technology until the construction is completed.
- 3.Economically viable production necessitates the setting up of large scale facilities which may raise ecological and social concerns.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Algae for fuel are grown on land, in open ponds or closed photobioreactors, often on non-arable land with non-potable water, so statement 1 is false. The real hurdles for a developing country are the engineering know-how needed and the very large scale (land, water, nutrients, CO2) needed to make it pay.
- ✗ 1. Algae are cultivated on land in open raceway ponds, attached-growth systems and closed photobioreactors; non-arable land is listed as one of the resources for growing them.
- ✓ 2. Designing cultivation systems that keep resource use and costs low while keeping productivity high, and then harvesting and processing the biomass, needs advanced technology and skills.
- ✓ 3. An algal biofuel industry has to scale up to use a large amount of land, water, nutrients and CO2, which can compete with other uses and raise ecological and social concerns.
Remember · Algal (third-generation) biofuel: grown on land in ponds or photobioreactors, even on non-arable land with saline or waste water; the limits are technology and the scale needed to be viable.
Sources
- US Department of Energy, Bioenergy Technologies: Algal Production ↗ “grow algae viably include non-arable land, non-potable water, waste nutrient streams, waste carbon dioxide, sufficient sunlight, and supporting infrastructure to access downstream processing operations. Development of an algal biofuel industry requires scaling up to use a significant amount of these resources. … open ponds, attached growth systems, and closed photobioreactors. Cultivation systems must minimize resource use and costs while maximizing productivity.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·