Microalgae can be cultivated in open-culture systems such as lakes or (raceway) ponds, and in closed-culture systems called photobioreactors (PBRs). Open-culture systems are normally cheaper to build and operate, more durable and have a higher production capacity than PBRs. However, open systems are more energy expensive in terms of nutrient distribution owing to mass transfer problems, and have their depth limited to 15 cm, to ensure that the microalgae receive enough light to grow. Moreover, ponds are more sensitive to weather changes, and temperature, evaporation and light intensity controls are not feasible. Furthermore, these open systems require more land area than PBRs, and are more susceptible to contamination, both from bacteria and from microalgae present in the surroundings of culture installations (Manzanera, 2011).

In contrast, PBRs are more flexible and are intensive land-usage systems that can be configured according to the specific physical-chemical requirements of the algae of choice, allowing the cultivation of species unsuited to open ponds. Nutrient homogenization, light distribution, pH, temperature, CO2 and O2 control can be achieved in photobioreactors. Thus, closed systems provide more stable and appropriate growing conditions, allowing higher cell densities and minimizing contamination. Nevertheless, PBRs have several technical problems that make them non-competitive in applications that can be achieved in raceway ponds. Such problems are overheating, bio-fouling, shearing stress, oxygen accumulation, scaling-up difficulties and the high costs of building, operation and maintenance (Chen et al., 2011).

Within these problems, it is worth highlighting capital building investment and high operation costs. PBRs biomass production costs may be one order of magnitude higher than in open systems. If the biomass added value is high, PBRs can be competitive. Otherwise, open ponds will be the preferred option. However, the evaluation of performance of open and closed systems is complex and depends on several factors, such as algal species or productivity computation method. Three parameters are commonly used to evaluate productivity in microalgae cultivation installations. Firstly, volumetric productivity (VP), that is, productivity per unit of reactor volume (g/l • d). The second parameter is area productivity (AP), defined as productivity per unit of ground area occupied by the reactor (g/ m2 • d). The third one is illuminated surface productivity (ISP), namely the productivity per unit of reactor illuminated surface area (g/m2 • d). Nevertheless, the election of closed or open systems relies on more aspects apart from productivity, as will be discussed below (Richmond, 2010).