Matias Boll - PhD Defense
March 8, 12:30pm - 1:30pmMānoa Campus, Sherman 103 Conference Room
Title:
The role of microalgae as biodiesel feedstock: Economics, agro-energy competitiveness and potential regional impacts on agricultural feedstock production in a tropical setting
Abstract:
Policymakers the world over are gravitating towards renewable bioenergy options to tackle the rising cost of fossil fuels, reduce the dependence on imported oil, address environmental concerns and provide new employment and income opportunities. Agro-energy, e.g., biofuel dedicated plantations, is the handy and logical alternative to rapidly enhance biofuel production. Its closeness with the staple food production chains and the significant volumes of energy demanded in modern economies, however, raised concerns that agro-energy based biofuels could significantly impact cropland use and agricultural feedstock prices. Microalgae have been considered as an alternative biodiesel feedstock source due its theoretically high photovoltaic efficiency, reduced cropland demand and the lack of direct conflicts with the staple food sector.
This seminar presents Boll's dissertation results where three aspects of the potential role of microalgae based biodiesel were investigated. These are: i) a realistic cost estimation for large-scale open pond microalgae production; ii) a comparative study among microalgae and six traditional oily crops regarding their sustainability when channeled to the biodiesel production chain; and iii) a cropland allocation model intended to help decision makers to forge a balanced assessment on the impacts associated with biofuel promotion and agricultural feedstock production at the regional scale. Considering a ten years time frame, the model is applied to project the impacts of four scenarios, including both microalgae and traditional oily crops as biodiesel feedstock. The target region in the study is the Northeast Region of Brazil (NER), where the Brazilian government plans to maximize the social benefits of biodiesel feedstock production in the country. Compromise programming is used to arrive at a more balanced scenario of three conflicting objectives, namely the maximization of staple food, agricultural export commodity and biofuel sectors returns to the target region.
Event Sponsor
Natural Resources & Environmental Management, Mānoa Campus
More Information
Lois Agena, 956-7530, laagena@hawaii.edu
Thursday, March 28 |
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9:00am |
PI-CASC Graduate Student Symposium
Mānoa Campus, Inmin Conference Room, East West Center
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9:30am |
Mathematics Final Oral
Mānoa Campus, George 213
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12:00pm |
Lunchbreak Mindfulness Series: The Spring Refresh
Mānoa Campus, Online
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2:00pm |
Free Surprise Dessert with any Purchase
Mānoa Campus, Starbucks at Campus Center
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3:00pm |
Gaza is Palestine: On Bakers and Storytellers
Mānoa Campus, 3114 Paliuili st
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3:00pm |
Oceanography Seminar - Daniela Koenig
Mānoa Campus, Marine Science Building 100
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4:30pm |
Gaza is Palestine: On Bakers and Storytellers
Mānoa Campus, 3114 Paliuili st
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5:00pm |
Part Time JD Flex and Law School Admissions - Zoom Information Session - March
Mānoa Campus, Virtual
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5:00pm |
Maika'i Tubbs: Candidate Presentation for Asst. Prof. Kanaka Maoli Visual Art
Mānoa Campus, ART 101
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7:00pm |
Navigators Bible Study
Mānoa Campus, Honolulu Christian Church 2207 Oahu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96822
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Friday, March 29 |
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9:00am |
EGG-stravaganza - Surprise Treats with NEW Spring Drink Purchase
Mānoa Campus, Starbucks at Gateway Cafe
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3:00pm |
Business Administration Final Oral
Mānoa Campus, Zoom
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Saturday, March 30 |
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9:00am |
EGG-stravaganza - Surprise Treats with NEW Spring Drink Purchase
Mānoa Campus, Starbucks at Gateway Cafe
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7:30pm |
JAVANESE GAMELAN CONCERT
Mānoa Campus, Music Department Barbara Smith Amphiteater
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Sunday, March 31 |
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9:00am |
EGG-stravaganza - Surprise Treats with NEW Spring Drink Purchase
Mānoa Campus, Starbucks at Gateway Cafe
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