ABSTRACT
Biomass as an alternative energy source shows great potential in mitigating global warming. Recently, algae are attracting great interest as a bioresource for sustainable energy production. This chapter is targeted to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest progress in algae research. In this chapter, a brief prospect of bioenergy research is presented to address the role of algae as a potential candidate for future generations of biofuels. Furthermore, the algal metabolism, its physicochemical characteristics and research and development on high-lipid-containing algal strains are reviewed. The content extends to the latest progress made in converting algal biomass into fuels using physicochemical, thermochemical and biological technologies. Finally, the advancements of using algae in environmental applications, including carbon sequestration and wastewater treatment, are reviewed and discussed. The reviews and discussions in this chapter provide valuable references for researchers and engineers working in, or close to, this research area.
