This study (Lansford et al. 1990) specifically addressed the saline groundwater water resources in New Mexico. The objective was to identify suitable areas where large (1,000-ha) microalgae facilities could be established based on land and water availability. This report did not consider CO2 availability. Selection criteria developed by SERI, such as water quality, land slope, and climatic conditions, were used in this analysis. The groundwater resource information was reviewed for potential suitability for microalgae culture. Total gross water reserves of some 20 billion acre-feet were projected, of which about one-quarter was fresh water and the remainder of varying degrees of salinity. Freshwater sources would likely not be available in large quantities, as they would have higher value uses, would already be appropriated, or otherwise restricted. Thus, this report focused on saline groundwater sources. A first cut was by depth, likely well yields, size of reserves, and chemical composition. A detailed analysis of six groundwater basins of varying sizes and quality was then carried out. A qualitative analysis was carried out first, based on available data (Table III. C.2). Of these six, only two met all the criteria established by SERI for a microalgae facility, with the Tularosa Basin judged the best choice and Crows Flats next. For these regions, about 2.3 to 5 million acre-feet of useable water resources were identified as available. This report is an excellent example of the challenges of developing such a detailed resource analysis, to arrive at even an initial estimate for a single U. S. state, even after relaxing a key resource constraint (e. g., CO2).

I Publications:

Lansford, R.; Hernandez, J.; Enis, P. J. (1987) “Evaluation of available saline water resources in New Mexico for the production of microalgae.” FY 1986 Aquatic Species Program Annual Report, Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, Colorado, SERI/SP-231-3071, pp. 227-248.

Lansford, R.; Hernandez, J.; Enis, P. J.; Truby, D.; Mapel, C. (1990) “Evaluation of available saline water resources in New Mexico for the production of microalgae.” Report, Solar Energy Research Institute, Golden, Colorado, SERI/TP 232-3597, 83 pp.

Table III. C.2. Suitable water resources in New Mexico.

(Source: Landsford et al. 1990.)

‘Unappropriated water is available, but competition from agriculture is Ikely because water quality is suitable for agriculture. "Unappropriated water is available, but competition from existing uses may exclude microalgae production.

50aia on depth to groundwater was available only far the Pecos Valley not the Pecos Basin.

"Ownership was not described lor the Pecos Basin. Ownership in the Pecos Valley was predominantly private.

‘Further study is recommended for the area around Roswell if less than a 1000 ha facility is considered.

III. C.7. Conclusions

The various ASP resources analyses indicated significant potential land, water, and CO2 resources, even within the limited geographic area (the southwestern United States) that was the focus of the ASP. Several quads (1015 Btu) of fuels were projected for the various available resources. Other areas, from Florida to California, could also be considered. Microalgae systems actually use fairly little water, compared to irrigated crop plants. In addition, many waste and saline water resources may be available and suitable for microalgae production. Many CO2 sources are available, and algal ponds could be purposefully co-located with CO2 sources, or even vice versa. This is already being done at a commercial microalgae facility in Hawaii. Finally, land is hardly a major limitation: two hundred thousand hectares, less than 0.1% of climatically suitable land areas in the United States, could, with maximal productivities, produce about 1 quad of fuels. Thus, although there are many practical limitations, which may make some earlier predictions optimistic, resource limitations should not be an argument against microalgae biodiesel systems.