[Lipid biofuel production with microalgae: potential and challenges]. / La production de biocarburant lipidique avec des microalgues : promesses et défis.

Microalgae can accumulate fatty acids up to 80% of their dry weight (Chisti 2007). As a consequence the yield per hectare could be higher by a factor of 30 compared to terrestrial oleaginous species. Biodiversity of microalgae is enormous. It is estimated that there are between 200 000 and several million species. Such diversity is an unexplored potential for research and industry. In comparison to terrestrial oleaginous species, microalgae have many characteristics addressing environmental problems with a drastically enhanced oil production. Microalgae are currently generating mediatic enthusiasm, and many start-ups are investing this niche. Nevertheless there are still locks to undo via upstream search, before the expected returns and costs are met and before these technologies can be developed at a large scale.