The aim of this work was evaluate the role of photoperiods (long-term, frequencies and short) on the growth and lipid content of microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus CPCC05. The results showed that Scenedesmus obliquus can store sufficient energy to sustain cell growth for continuous periods of up to 2 h in the dark, without affecting the photosynthetic rate. The values for maximum biomass (9.58 mg/L h) and lipid productivities (2.56 mg/L h) were obtained at photoperiod of 0.91:0.09 s (light: dark) and 48 t/d, respectively. Moreover, the best trade-offs between biomass productivity and light energy economy occurred in photoperiods of 0.5:0.5 s and 0.91:0.09 s (light: dark), and those between lipid productivity and light energy economy occurred in the frequency photoperiod of 24 and 48 t/d. Thus, the use of the photoperiods are an effective strategy for reducing costs of microalgal biomass production. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.