We analyze water‐energy tradeoffs for hypothetical algae production for biofuel feedstock in the US‐Mexico middle Rio Grande watershed with a coupled water, salinity, and algae biomass balance model. Suitable areas for algae cultivation in the region are selected and associated with fresh or brackish groundwater sources. We examine the potential of using two algae species with markedly different energy content and tolerance to salinities. Location‐specific water quality and time‐varying climate variables were important when analyzing water‐energy tradeoffs for each species. In this regional study, water demand rates for the salinity‐tolerant species were similar to rates for conventional local crops, whereas the salinity‐sensitive species’ values exceeded local demand rates. Optimizing the spatial selection of species resulted in water footprint reductions of as much as 18%. Water demand rates and footprints are highly sensitive to salinity and temperature tolerance and thus local variations in water quality and seasonal variations in climate. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

中文翻译：

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模拟水能源折衷方案，以在淡水和咸水供应的半干旱地区种植藻类作为生物燃料

我们使用耦合的水，盐度和藻类生物量平衡模型，分析了美国-墨西哥中部里奥格兰德河集水区的生物燃料原料假想藻类生产的水能折衷。选择该区域中适合藻类养殖的区域，并与淡水或微咸的地下水源相关联。我们研究了使用两种藻类的潜力，这些藻类的能量含量和耐盐性明显不同。在分析每种物种的水能权衡时，特定地点的水质和时变气候变量很重要。在该区域研究中，耐盐性物种的需水率与传统当地农作物的需水率相似，而耐盐性物种的价值超过了本地需求率。优化物种的空间选择可使水足迹减少多达18％。需水率和足迹对盐度和温度耐受性高度敏感，因此对水质的局部变化和气候的季节性变化高度敏感。©2020年化学工业协会和John Wiley＆Sons，Ltd