A Biodiesel production from microalgae: a financial technical analysis

Biodiesel and its new perspectives

Abstract

Aiming to elucidate the costs contained in the production chain of biodiesel through microalgae, this work sought to gather several variables present in the composition of a biodiesel production industry from microalgae, entering a conjuncture of hypotheses, for the realization of mass and energy balances, as well as for the elaboration of financial analysis.

 Mass balances were performed, considering conversion rates, yield, reaction stoichiometry, density of compounds, among others. In the end, after all calculations, an annual production of 22.872,78 m³ of biodiesel was obtained. In the energy balance phase, the equipment containing temperature changes was taken into account to define the energy expenditure of the industry, making it possible to then account for the necessary steam consumption, which was calculated as 2.765,54 kg h^-1.

 Afterward the monetary values necessary for the company´s operation were estimated, accounting for fixed and variable costs, with subsequent evaluation of indicators, such as the discounted payback, the internal rate of return, the net present value and the break-even point, which indicate the feasibility of the project under the conditions indicated during the work.

Keywords: biodiesel; microalgae; mass balance; energy balance; payback; balance point.