ALGADISK project

Novel algae-based solution for CO2 capture and biomass production

EU programmes to reduce CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions have steadily increased since signing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. In 2003 the EC mandated the increased usage of bio-fuels to lower CO2 emissions. This policy stimulated – at least in part – biofuel production in the EU and worldwide. Another factor that contributed to the surge in bio-fuel production was a general increase in demand for organic biomass products (i.e. livestock feed, bio-fertilizers).

Microalgae are generally recognized as the most promising solution for both bio-fuel production and industrial capture of emitted CO2. In addition, valuable organic products are formed during the process, including human/animal nutritional supplements, proteins and saccharides. The ability of these photosynthetic microorganisms to convert carbon dioxide into carbon-rich lipids (only a step or two away from bio-diesel) greatly exceeds that of agricultural oleaginous crops, without competing for arable land.

Although some industrial and pilot scale methods have been developed for microalgae production, they are currently not economically viable, especially on a large scale. Limitations to these systems include: sub-optimal productivity, expensive installation, large footprint (surface area), high water demand and the requirement for a highly trained end-user.

ALGADISK Consortium members have identified the need for a scalable, economically feasible algae production unit, capable of delivering high value alga-based products (animal and human nutrients, bio-fertilizer) as well as biomass (biodiesel precursors), while reducing CO2 emissions. SME-AG members are particularly interested in a system that remains profitable with small-scale installations and occupies a minimal amount of space. In addition to the production technology, there is also a need for an organized and integrated knowledge base. Many SME-AG members are interested in algae production, but lack the tools necessary to calculate economic feasibility and to determine which system best suits their needs. One aim of the project, therefore, is to bridge the knowledge gap between research activities and end-user needs.

ALGADISK project is funded by the European Commission through the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) within the funding scheme “Research for the Benefit of SME Associations” managed by REA Research Executive Agency (http://ec.europa.eu/research/rea) with contract number 286887. 11 participants (3 associations, 4 small and medium enterprises and 4 research institutions) work on the realization of the project for 36 months. For more information on the consortium members, please visit the project website. The project started on 1 January 2012 and it has now reached its 14th month.

The aim of the ALGADISK project is to develop a modular, scalable and automatic biofilm reactor for algae biomass production, with low operational and installation costs. The reactor will be designed on the basis of energy balance and sustainability calculation to capture CO2 from industrial emissions to produce high value organic products. In this system, algae will be grown both in an aqueous environment and on biocompatible surfaces, allowing for CO2 absorption from either the gas or the liquid phase. This method will dramatically increase the efficiency of the reactor and decrease water requirements. Automatic and continuous harvesting of algae will be designed to optimize CO2 uptake and biomass production. ALGADISK will have a modular design in order to easy adjustment the scale of the further the installation’s footprint will be considerably reduced compared to technologies currently on the market. Design software will be provided which, based on user input, will suggest installation parameters, perform cost/benefit analysis to calculate economic feasibility, and make predictions concerning the environmental sustainability of the system. The proposed system will be specifically crafted to meet the needs of European associations having SME members who are willing to produce algae biomass products from industrial emissions.

As a first step, the ALGADISK consortium conducted a market research to gain a more detailed understanding of the market needs previously identified by the consortium SME-AG members. The aim was to facilitate the definition of the technical parameters of the ALGADISK reactor system in month 6 of the project. The market need determination was done through a market survey. A questionnaire was prepared in 8 European languages (English, German, Hungarian, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch and Turkish) and distributed by Consortium SME-AG and SME members to relevant companies. The main objectives were to gain information on:
- currently used alga technologies
- degree of satisfaction with current methods and unaddressed needs
- demand for alga biomass products
- price of alga biomass products
- scale of production most needed in Europe
- need for different reactor configurations

Overall, from the responses it can be withdrawn that the novelty and potential of ALGADISK project is huge and the gathered information together with the technological knowledge gained since the start of the project was used to determine an accurate system specification, based on which the system design is in progress.

As an important task of the project, a sustainability calculation was made for the ALGADISK reactor in order to demonstrate the environmental benefits of the proposed process. This energy balance calculation was made upon the transparent greenhouse gas (GHG) calculations using the methodology as given in the European Directives 2009/28/EC and 2009/30/EC. The energy balance calculation was made for Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) as standard final product. The GHG emission and saving was determined for each step of the FAME production process using the biomass produced by the ALGADISK reactor. For the production and harvesting, input values were estimated based on the preliminary laboratory results of the ALGADISK reactor, while the emission for the up-stream process of raw algal biomass was determined from publicly available data (BioGrace project public web page: http://www.biograce.net/) for FAME production. As a conclusion of these calculations, production of energy carrier FAME from microalgae using the ALGADISK system can be considered as reduction of GHG in all the examined scenarios according to the EU Directives 2009/28/EC and 2009/30/EC.

Currently, laboratory tests, pilot scale system mechanical and electronic design is carried out. It will be followed by built-up of the reactor system and installation at one end-user facility. Provisionally, the first ALGADISK reactor will be operated and tested from the summer of 2014.

For more information please visit www.algadisk.eu or contact the Coordinator of the project through [e-mail].

Countries

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom