Multimodular designs of electron donor-acceptor systems are the ultimate strategy in fabricating antenna-reaction center mimics for artificial photosynthetic applications. The studied photosystems clearly demonstrated efficient energy transfer from the antenna system to the primary electron donor, and charge stabilization of the radical ion pair achieved with the utilization of secondary electron donors that permits either electron migration or hole transfer. Moreover, the molecular arrangement of the photoactive components also influences the route of energy and electron transfer as observed from the aluminum(III) porphyrin-based photosystems. Furthermore, modulation of the photophysical and electronic properties of these photoactive units were illustrated from the thio-aryl substitution of subphthalocyanines yielding red-shifted Q bands of the said chromophore; hence, regulating the rate of charge separation and recombination in the subphthalocyanine-fullerene conjugates. These multicomponent photosystems has the potential to absorb the entire UV-visible-NIR spectrum of the light energy allowing maximum light-harvesting capability. Furthermore, it permits charge stabilization of the radical ion pair enabling the utilization of the transferred electron/s to be used by water oxidizing and proton reducing catalysts in full-scale artificial photosynthetic apparatuses.

Yes / The penetration of renewable energies in the energy market has increased significantly over the last two decades due to environmental concerns and clean energy requirements. The principal advantage of renewable energy resources (RESs) over non-RESs is that it has no direct carbonisation impact on the environment and that it has none of the global warming effects which are caused by carbon emissions. Furthermore, the liberalisation of the energy market has led to the realisation of the virtual power plant (VPP) concept. A VPP is a unified platform for distributed energy resources that integrates the capacities of various renewable energies together for the purpose of improving power generation and management as well as catering for the buying and selling of energy in wholesale energy markets. This review study presents a comprehensive review of existing approaches to planning, operation and scheduling of the VPP system. The methodologies that were adopted, their advantages and disadvantages are assessed in detail in order to benefit new entrants in the power system and provide them with comprehensive knowledge, techniques and understanding of the VPP concept.

Thesis (D. Tech. (Electrical Engineering)) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2014 / For a sustainable and clean electricity production in isolated rural areas, renewable energies appear to be the most suitable and usable supply options. Apart from all being renewable and sustainable, each of the renewable energy sources has its specific characteristics and advantages that make it well suited for specific applications and locations. Solar photovoltaic and wind turbines are well established and are currently the mostly used renewable energy sources for electricity generation in small-scale rural applications. However, for areas in which adequate water resources are available, micro-hydro is the best supply option compared to other renewable resources in terms of cost of energy produced. Apart from being capital-cost-intensive, the other main disadvantages of the renewable energy technologies are their resource-dependent output powers and their strong reliance on weather and climatic conditions. Therefore, they cannot continuously match the fluctuating load energy requirements each and every time. Standalone diesel generators, on the other hand, have low initial capital costs and can generate electricity on demand, but their operation and maintenance costs are very high, especially when they run at partial loads. In order for the renewable sources to respond reliably to the load energy requirements, they can be combined in a hybrid energy system with back-up diesel generator and energy storage systems. The most important feature of such a hybrid system is to generate energy at any time by optimally using all available energy sources. The fact that the renewable resources available at a given site are a function of the season of the year implies that the fraction of the energy provided to the load is not constant. This means that for hybrid systems comprising diesel generator, renewable sources and battery storage in their architecture, the renewable energy fraction and the energy storage capacity are projected to have a significant impact on the diesel generator fuel consumption, depending on the complex interaction between the daily variation of renewable resources and the non-linear load demand. V This was the context on which this research was based, aiming to develop a tool to minimize the daily operation costs of standalone hybrid systems. However, the complexity of this problem is of an extremely high mathematical degree due to the non-linearity of the load demand as well as the non-linearity of the renewable resources profiles. Unlike the algorithms already developed, the objective was to develop a tool that could minimize the diesel generator control variables while maximizing the hydro, wind, solar and battery control variables resulting in saving fuel and operation costs. An innovative and powerful optimization model was then developed capable of efficiently dealing with these types of problems. The hybrid system optimal operation control model has been simulated using fmincon interior-point in MATLAB. Using realistic and actual data for several case studies, the developed model has been successfully used to analyse the complex interaction between the daily non-linear load, the non-linear renewable resources as well as the battery dynamic, and their impact on the hybrid system’s daily operation cost minimization. The model developed, as well as the solver and algorithm used in this work, have low computational requirements for achieving results within a reasonable time, therefore this can be seen as a faster and more accurate optimization tool.

The Straits of Florida has been noted as a potential location for extraction of the kydrokinetic energy of the Florida Current, in view of the strength of the current and its proximity to the shore. ... This research explores the Florida Current as a potential renewable energy source. By utilizing historical data, in situ observations of the Florida Current, and computer model data, the hydrokinetic resource of the Florida Current is characterized both spatially and temporally. Subsequently, based on the geographic variability of the hydrokinetic power and other factors that impact the economy of a hydrokinetic turbine array installation, the ideal locations for turbine array installation within the Florida Current are identified.... Additionally, an interactive tool has been developed in which array parameters are input - including installation location, turbine diameter, turbine cut-in speed, etc. - and array extraction estimates, ideal installation position, and water depth at the installation points are output. As ocean model data is prominently used in this research, a discussion about the limitations of the ocean model data and a method for overcoming these limitations are described. Globally, the distribution of hydrokinetic power intensity is evaluated to identify other currents that have a high hydrokinetic resource. / by Alana E. Smentek-Duerr. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The objective of this PhD thesis is to create a Unit Commitment and Economic Dispatch (UCED) modelling tool that can used to simulate the deterministic performance of a power system with thermal and renewable generators and energy storage technologies. The model was formulated using mixed integer programing (MIP) on GAMS interface. A robust commercial solver by IBM (CPLEX) is used as solver. Emphasis on the development of the tool has been given on the following aspects. a) Technical impacts of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) integration. The UCED model developed in this thesis is a high resolution short-term dispatch model. It captures the variability of VRE power on the intra-hour level. In addition the model considers a large number of important real world, system, unit and policy constraints. Detailed representation of a power system allows for a realistic estimation of maximum penetration levels of VRE and the related technical impacts like cycling of generators (part-loading and number of start-ups). b) CO2 emissions. High levels of VRE penetration can potentially increase consumption of fuel in thermal units per unit of electricity produced due to increased thermal cycling. The dispatch of units in the UCED model is based on minimizing system wide operational costs the most important of those being fuel, start-up costs and the cost of carbon. Fuel consumption is calculated using technical data from Input/Output curves of individual generators. The start-up cost is calculated based on times the generator units have been off and the energy requirement to bring the unit back to hot state. Thus dynamic changes on fuel consumption can be captured and reported. c) Technical solutions to facilitate VRE integration. VRE penetration can be facilitated if appropriate solutions are implemented. Energy storage is an effective way to reduce the impact of RE variability. The UCED model includes an integrated Mixed Integer Linear (MILP) compressed air energy storage (CAES) simulation sub-model. Unlike existing CAES models, the new “Thermo-Economic” (TE) CAES model developed in this thesis uses technical data from major CAES manufacturers to model the dynamic effect of cavern pressure on both the compression and expansion sides during CAES operation. More specifically the TE model takes into account that a) a compressor discharges at a pressure equal to the back-pressure developed in the cavern at each moment, b) the speed of charging can be regulated through inlet guide vanes; higher charging speed can take place at the expense of additional power consumption, c) the maximum power output during expansion can be limited by the levels of cavern pressure; there is a threshold pressure level below which the maximum output decreases linearly with pressure. Since it uses actual power curves to simulate CAES operation, the TE model can be assumed to be more accurate than conventional Fixed Parameter (FP) models that don’t model dynamic effects of cavern pressure on CAES operation. The TE model in this thesis is compared with conventional FP models using historical market prices from the Irish electricity market. The comparison was based on the ability of a CAES unit to arbitrage energy for making profit in the Irish electricity market. More specifically a “Base” scenario was created that included the operation of a 270MW CAES unit with technical characteristics obtained from a major CAES manufacturer and assumed discharge time of 13hr. Various sensitivities on discharge time, natural gas prices and system marginal prices (SMPs) were modeled. An additional scenario was created to show the benefit on CAES profitability if the unit participated in both the energy and ancillary services markets. All scenarios were modeled using both the TE and FP CAES models. The results showed that the most realistic TE model returns around 15% less profitability across more scenarios. The reduction in profitability grows to around 30% when the cavern volume (discharge time) is reduced to half (6 hours). The latter is related to the sensitivity of the TE model on cavern pressure that is being built faster when the volume is reduced. A CAES unit won’t get a positive net present value (NPV) in Ireland under any scenario unless SMPs are greatly increased. Thus, it was shown that that existing FP CAES models overestimate CAES profitability. More accurate models need to be used to estimate CAES profitability in deregulated markets. Additionally, it might deem necessary to create additional markets for energy storage units and increase the possible revenue sources and magnitude to facilitate an increase of storage capacity worldwide. The second step of analysis involved the integration of the CAES and UCED models. The UCED model developed in this thesis was validated and applied using data from the Irish grid, a power system with more than 50 thermal generators. A vast of existent data was used to create a mathematical model of the Irish system. Such data include technical specifications and variables of thermal generators, maintenance schedules and historical solar, wind and demand data. The validation exercise was deemed successful since the UCED model simulated utilization factors of 45 out of 52 generators with an absolute difference between modeled and actual results on utilization factors of less than 6% (the absolute differences are called Delta in this thesis). In addition the results of validation exercise were compared with the results of a similar exercise where PLEXOS was the modelling tool and it was found that the results of the two models were similar for the vast majority of generators. More specifically, the PLEXOS model results showed higher deltas for the coal-fired generators compared to the UCED model. On the other hand the UCED model, reported higher delta values for peat-fired generators. The results of the PLEXOS model were slightly better for the gas-fired generators while both models reported deltas nearly zero for all oil and distillate-fired generators. Finally the model was applied to study the benefits of energy storage in Ireland in 2020 when wind penetration is expected to reach 37% of total demand. The analysis involved the development of two groups of 3 scenarios each. In the first group the main scenario also called the “Reference” was used to simulate the short-term unit (30 min step) commitment within the Irish system without storage. The results of the reference scenario were compared with two additional scenarios that assumed the existence of one 270MW CAES unit in Northern Ireland by 2020 (again the first scenario involved the TE and the second the FP CAES model). The results showed –when using the TE model- that the inclusion of one 270MW CAES unit in AI can help reduce wind curtailment by 88GWh, CO2 emissions by 150,000 tonnes and system costs by € 6 million per year. If an FP model had been used instead the reductions would be: wind curtailment by 108GWh, CO2 emissions by 270,000 tonnes and annual system costs by €13 million. Two main conclusions can be obtained from the specific set of results. The first conclusion is that storage units have a financial benefit over the whole system. Thus, when a CAES unit operates to minimize the costs of the whole system can incur substantially more benefits compared to if the CAES unit operated to maximize the individual unit’s profits as in the case presented earlier. The benefits of storage over the whole system should be accounted to make policy decisions and create incentives for investors to increase energy storage capacity in national grids. The second important conclusion is that existing CAES FP models overestimate the ability of a CAES unit to facilitate VRE penetration. More accurate TE models should be used to assess a unit’s capability to increase system flexibility. A second group of scenarios was created to simulate the benefit of CAES at even higher VRE penetration levels. In the second group the “Reference” scenario again, assumed no storage however, wind production was increased by 25%. Again the “Reference” was compared with two additional scenarios that assumed integration of 3x270MW=810MW of storage capacity in AI (one scenario used the TE model and the other the FP). The results for the TE model show that each of the 3 CAES units reduces wind curtailment by 188,000MWh, total system costs by €29 million and CO2 emissions by 180,000 tonnes. The same reductions for the FP model are 217,000MWh of wind curtailment, €25.6 million on total system costs and 180,000 tonnes of CO2. Thus, the results of the second group of scenarios show that as the installed capacity of both CAES and wind increases in Ireland a) the system-wide benefits of CAES increase and b) the differences on results between the TE and FP models become much smaller.

Thesis (PhD (School of Public Leadership))--University of Stellenbosch, 2012. / Please download the required VENSIM software from: http://www.vensim.com/freedownload.html / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Technology assessment has changed in nature over the last four decades. It changed from an analytical tool for technology evaluation, which depends heavily on quantitative and qualitative modelling methodologies, into a strategic planning tool for policy-making concerning acceptable new technologies, which depends on participative policy problem analysis. The goal of technology assessment today is to generate policy options for solutions of organisational and societal problems, which at the operational level, utilise new technologies that are publicly acceptable; that is, viable policy options. Energy technology assessment for sustainability is inherently a complex and dynamic process that requires a holistic and transdisciplinary approach. In the South Africa context, specifically, there is no formal and coherent approach to energy technology assessment from a sustainability perspective. Without a formal comprehensive or well integrated technology assessment approach to evaluate the sustainability of any technology, the policy-makers, technology designers, and decision-makers are faced with difficulty in terms of making reasoned decisions about the appropriate technology options. This study developed a framework that incorporates a technology assessment approach, namely, system dynamics, within the broader scope of technology development for sustainability. The framework, termed the Systems Approach to Technology Sustainability Assessment (SATSA), integrates three key elements: technology development, sustainable development, and a dynamic systems approach. The study then provides a guiding process of applying the framework to energy technology assessment theory and practice within the context of sustainable development. Biodiesel, a cleaner burning replacement fuel, argued to potentially contribute to sustainable development, is used for the demonstration. Biodiesel development entails complex interactions of actors such as the technology developers, government at different levels, communities, as well as the natural environment. Different actions or responses in the greater system might hinder or undermine the positive effects of such a development. Based on the SATSA framework, a Bioenergy Technology Sustainability Assessment (BIOTSA) model was developed. The BIOTSA model was used to test the outcomes of a proposed biodiesel production development in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa on selected sustainability indicators. In addition, some policy scenarios were tested to compare how they assist in improving the selected indicators. The BIOTSA model results are useful in comparing dynamic consequences resulting from a proposed biodiesel production development and the respective policies and decisions that may arise from such a development. The testing and validation of the BIOTSA model was carried out based on structural validity, behavioural validity, and expert opinion. Potential policy scenario outcomes and their implication, on the selected sustainability indicators, were also tested. The opinions of the selected stakeholders indicated that the BIOTSA model was useful in providing an understanding of the potential impacts of the biodiesel development on selected sustainability indicators in the Eastern Cape Province. Thus, the SATSA framework can be applied for assessing sustainability of other renewable energy technologies. In addition, system dynamics provide a useful and a feasible dynamic systems approach for energy technology sustainability assessment. Finally, the model building process and transdisciplinary nature of this study enabled the identification of the potential problems that could arise during the biodiesel production development. In addition, gaps in data and knowledge were identified and the recommendation for future work in this field is highlighted. Nevertheless, the findings of the BIOTSA model could inform policy- and decision-making in biodiesel production development in South Africa. The development of similar models for other renewable energy development efforts is thus recommended. The current efforts to facilitate the large-scale roll out of concentrated solar thermal technologies in Southern Africa, for example, would require the development of a Solar Thermal Technology Sustainability Assessment (SOTTSA) model. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aard van tegnologie assessering het in die afgelope vier dekades verander. Dit het verander ten opsigte van ’n analitiese hulpmiddel vir tegnologie evaluering, wat hoofsaaklik staatmaak op kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe modelleringsmetodiek, na ’n strategiese beplanningshulpmiddel vir beleidvorming met betrekking tot nuwe aanvaarbare tegnologieë, wat afhanklik is van ’n deelnemende beleidsprobleem analise. Vandag se doel vir tegnologie assessering is om beleidsopsies vir oplossings van organisatoriese en sosiale probleme te genereer, wat op operasionele vlak gebruik maak van nuwe tegnologieë wat deur die publiek aanvaar is; met ander woorde, lewensvatbare beleidsopsies. Energie tegnologie assessering vir volhoubaarheid is sonder twyfel ’n komplekse en dinamiese proses wat ’n holistiese en transdisiplinêre benadering benodig. In die Suid- Afrikaanse konteks is daar geen formele en samehangende benadering tot tegnologie assessering vanaf ’n volhoubaarheidsperspektief nie. Beleidsmakers, tegnologie ontwerpers en besluitnemers mag sukkel om beredenerende besluite te neem oor die toepaslike tegnologie opsies sonder ’n formele omvattende of goed geïntegreerde tegnologie assesseringsbenadering om die volhoubaarheid van enige tegnologie te evalueer. Hierdie studie het ’n raamwerk ontwerp wat die tegnologie assesseringsbenadering inkorporeer binne die breë bestek van tegnologiese ontwikkeling vir volhoubaarheid naamlik, stelsel dinamika. Die raamwerk, genoem die Sisteem Benadering tot Tegnologie Volhoubaarheidsassessering (SBTVA) integreer drie sleutelelemente: tegnologiese ontwikkeling, volhoubaarheidsontwikkeling, en ʼn dinamiese stelsels benadering. Verder verskaf die studie ’n leidende proses te opsigte van die toepassing van die raamwerk tot energie tegnologie assesseringsteorie en praktyk binne die konteks van volhoubaarheidsontwikkeling. Biodiesel word gebruik vir die demonstrasie omdat dit gereken word as ’n skoner plaasvervanger vir brandstof en daar aangevoer word dat dit ’n potensiële bydraer tot volhoubaarheidsontwikkeling is. Die ontwikkeling van biodiesel behels komplekse interaksie tussen verskeie akteurs soos tegnologiese ontwikkelaars, die regering op verskillende vlakke, gemeenskappe asook die natuurlike omgewing. Verskeie aksies of reaksies in die groter sisteem mag dalk die positiewe effek van so ontwikkeling ondermyn of verhinder. ’n Biodiesel Tegnologiese Volhoubaarheidsassessering (BIOTVA) model is ontwerp gebaseer op die SBTVA raamwerk. Die BIOTVA model is gebruik om die uitkomste op geselekteerde volhoubaarheidsaanduiders van ’n voorgestelde biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling in die Oos- Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika te toets. Buiten vir die voorafgaande is sekere beleidtoekomsblikke ook getoets om te vergelyk hoe hulle sal help om die geselekteerde aanwysers te verbeter. Die BIOTVA model resultate is behulpsaam in die vergelyking van dinamiese gevolge wat voortspruit uit die voorgestelde biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling asook die onderskeie beleide en besluite wat mag ontstaan van so ’n ontwikkeling. Die toetsing en bekragtiging van die BIOTVA model was uitgevoer gebaseer op strukturele geldigheid, gedragsgeldigheid, en kundige opinie. Potensiële beleidtoekomsblikke uitkomste en die nagevolge, ten opsigte van die geselekteerde volhoubaarheidsaanduiders, is ook getoets. Die opinies van die geselekteerde aandeelhouers het aangedui dat die BIOTVA model bruikbaar is om ’n beter begrip te verskaf ten opsigte van die potensiële impak wat die biodiesel ontwikkeling op geselekteerde volhoubaarheidsaanduiders in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie sal hê. As gevolg hiervan kan die SBTVA raamwerk toegepas word om die volhoubaarheid van ander herwinbare energie tegnologieë te assesseer. Buiten die voorafgaande kan stelsel dinamika ’n bruikbare en uitvoerbare dinamiese stelselbenadering vir energie tegnologie volhoubaarheidsassessering verskaf. Ten slotte, die model bouproses en transdisiplinêre aarde van die studie het gehelp om potensiële probleme wat kan voorkom tydens die biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling te identifiseer. Daarby is gapings in data en kennis ook geïdentifiseer en die aanbevelings vir verdere studie in die veld is uitgelig. Nieteenstaande kan die bevindings van die BIOTVA model beleidmakers en besluitnemers in die biodiesel produksie ontwikkeling van Suid- Afrika inlig. Die ontwikkeling van soortgelyke modelle vir ander herwinbare energie ontwikkelingspogings word aanbeveel. As voorbeeld sal die huidige pogings om die grootskaalse uitrol van gekonsentreerde son termiese tegnologieë in Suider-Afrika te fasiliteer die ontwikkeling van ’n Son Termiese Tegnologie Volhoubaarheidsassesering (SOTTVA) model benodig.

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / Refer to the document

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 361-386)

Orientador: Gilberto De Martino Jannuzzi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T21:42:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nogueira_LarissaGoncalves_M.pdf: 2506781 bytes, checksum: 2b63fc90bfa86344fd1d43917510b57c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Apesar da geração de energia elétrica no mundo ainda ser majoritariamente oriunda de combustíveis fósseis e não renováveis, várias políticas de incentivo ao uso de fontes renováveis alternativas de energia têm sido desenvolvidas. Dentre estas fontes, a geração de energia elétrica a partir de sistemas fotovoltaicos conectados à rede se destaca devido à elevada taxa de crescimento dos últimos anos; pelas expressivas reduções de preço e por ser uma das tecnologias chave para a geração descentralizada de energia elétrica em áreas remotas. Alguns dos benefícios da geração distribuída a partir de sistemas fotovoltaicos conectados à rede são: postergação de investimentos em expansão nos sistemas de distribuição e de transmissão; baixo impacto ambiental e tempo reduzido de implantação; redução no carregamento das redes e de perdas; e diversificação da matriz energética. No entanto, observa-se que a fonte tem sido mais bem aproveitada em países com baixos índices de irradiação solar. Chile e Brasil, por exemplo, possuem excelente potencial solar e oportunidades semelhantes de investimento na tecnologia, mas restringiram a utilização da fonte basicamente a sistemas isolados. Neste contexto, algumas iniciativas no Brasil e Chile têm visado o desenvolvimento da energia solar fotovoltaica. Esta dissertação tratou de analisar comparativamente as principais barreiras enfrentadas pela geração distribuída a partir de sistemas fotovoltaicos conectados à rede e, em seguida, sugeriu, através de cenários, quais mecanismos de incentivo seriam mais adequados para a promoção desta tecnologia / Abstract: Despite the generation of electricity in the world is still mainly coming from non-renewable fossil fuels, various policies to encourage the use of alternative renewable energy sources have been developed. Among these sources, electricity generation from photovoltaic systems connected to the grid has shown high rate of growth in recent years, due to the significant price reductions and also for being one of the preferred technologies for decentralized electricity generation in remote areas. Some of the benefits of distributed generation from photovoltaic systems connected to the grid are: postponement of investments needed for expanding distribution and transmission systems, low environmental impact and reduced time to deployment, reduction in network load and losses, improvement of voltage levels during heavy load and electric matrix diversification. Nevertheless, it is observed that the source has been utilized better in countries with low levels of solar radiation. Chile and Brazil, for example, have excellent solar potential and similar opportunities to investment in the technology, but the source use has been basically restricted to isolated systems. However, many initiatives in Brazil and Chile have targeted the development of solar photovoltaic systems in these countries. This thesis has the objective to analyze the major barriers faced by distributed generation from photovoltaic systems connected to the grid and then suggest, through scenarios, which mechanisms would be more appropriate for the promotion of this technology / Mestrado / Planejamento de Sistemas Energeticos / Mestre em Planejamento de Sistemas Energéticos

Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the Degree of Master of Technology: Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Due to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel usage, the impending threat of global climate change has increased. The need for an alternative energy feedstock that is not in direct competition to food production has drawn the focus to microalgae. Research suggests that future advances in microalgal mass culture will require closed systems as most microalgal species of interest thrive in highly selective environments. A high lipid producing microalga, identified as Chlorella vulgaris was isolated from a freshwater pond. To appraise the biofuel potential of the isolated strain, the growth kinetics, pyroletic characteristics and photosynthetic efficiency of the Chlorella sp was evaluated in vitro. The optimised preliminary conditions for higher biomass yield of the selected strain were at 4% CO2, 0.5 g l-1 NaNO3 and 0.04 g l-1 PO4, respectively. Pulse amplitude modulation results indicated that C. vulgaris could withstand a light intensity ranging from 150-350 μmol photons m-2s-1. The pyrolitic studies under inert atmosphere at different heating rates of 15, 30, 40 and 50 ºC min-1 from ambient temperature to 800 oC showed that the overall final weight loss recorded for the four different heating rates was in the range of 78.9 to 81%. A tubular photobioreactor was then designed and utilised for biomass and lipid optimisation. The suspension of microalgae was circulated by a pump and propelled to give a sufficiently turbulent flow periodically through the illuminated part and the dark part of the photobioreactor. Microalgal density was determined daily using a Spectrophotometer. Spectrophotometric determinations of biomass were periodically verified by dry cell weight measurements. Results suggest that the optimal NaNO3 concentration for cell growth in the reactor was around 7.5 g l-1, yielding maximum biomass of 2.09 g l-1 on day 16. This was a significant 2.2 fold increase in biomass (p < 0.005) when compared to results achieved at the lowest NaNO3 cycle (of 3.8 g l-1), which yielded a biomass value of 0.95 g l-1 at an OD of 1.178. Lipid accumulation experiments revealed that the microalga did not accumulate significant amounts of lipids when NaNO3 concentrations in the reactor were beyond 1.5 g l-1 (p > 0.005). The largest lipid fraction occurred when the NaNO3 concentration in the medium was 0.5 g l-1. Results suggest that the optimal trade-off between maximising biomass and lipid content occurs at 0.9 g l-1 NaNO3 among the tested conditions within the photobioreactor. Gas chromatograms showed that even though a greater number of known lipids were produced in Run 8, the total lipid percentage was much lower when compared to Runs 9-13. For maximal biomass and lipid from C. vulgaris, it is therefore crucial to optimise nutritional parameters such as NaNO3. However, suitable growth conditions for C. vulgaris in a tubular photobioreactor calls for innovative technological breakthroughs and therefore work is ongoing globally to address this.