Constant and fluctuating light intensity significantly affects the growth and biochemical composition of microalgae and it is essential to identify suitable illumination conditions for commercial microalgae biofuel production. In the present study, effects of light intensities, light: dark cycles, incremental light intensity strategies and fluctuating light intensities simulating different sky conditions in indoor photobioreactor on Desmodesmus sp. VIT growth, lipid and carbohydrate content were analyzed in batch culture. The results revealed that Desmodesmus sp. VIT obtained maximum lipid content (22.5%) and biomass production (1.033 g/L) under incremental light intensity strategy. The highest carbohydrate content of 25.4% was observed under constant light intensity of 16,000 lx and 16: 08 h light: dark cycle. The maximum biomass productivity of Desmodesmus sp. VIT (53.38 mg/L/d) was occurred under fluctuating light intensity simulating intermediate overcast sky condition. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.