Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REALM (Reusing Effluents from Agriculture to unLock the potential of Microalgae)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-07-01 bis 2023-12-31
The REALM project seeks to transform nutrient-rich drainage waters from soilless farms into valuable resources through decentralised microalgae production to enhance resource re-utilisation and profitability for both microalgae production and soilless farming. The strategy involves spreading semi-automatic microalgae production facilities near key resource suppliers, such as soilless cultivation farms. Here biomass is produced, concentrated, and shipped to a central processing facility to make microalgal biomass production more efficient and cost-effective. The REALM concept is being tested using validation facilities (>1 m3) in the Netherlands and Finland, along with demonstration facilities (~1 ha) in Portugal and Spain. All facilities are being optimised to match the necessities of their operating conditions, including the drainwater composition, weather conditions and chosen strains.
The REALM project aims to overcome critical bottlenecks hindering the widespread commercialisation of microalgae-based products – such as the high production costs associated with microalgal biomass. These costs must be significantly reduced to make microalgae feedstocks more competitive than less sustainable sources. REALM addresses this challenge by focusing on five crucial inputs for industrial-scale microalgal biomass cultivation: water, nutrients, energy, CO2, and labour.
To this end, the project focuses on selecting and optimising resilient, productive and commercially relevant strains under continuous cultivation. Cultivation will be supported by novel sensors, A.I.-based predictive models and a cloud-based monitoring system to enhance operational efficiency. The continuous cultivation will be performed through low-cost membrane harvesting to recirculate the nutrient-rich drainage back to the system whenever necessary. A direct air capture prototype will be tested in the validation facilities to deliver 2-5 % CO2 to the cultures.
Downstream, the project adopted a biorefinery approach that maximises biomass valorisation and product development thus strengthening the competitiveness of algal-based products. REALM seeks to generate novel bioproducts with rising global market demand, such as biostimulants and biopesticides for agriculture and aquafeed ingredients for aquaculture. Microalgae's potential to produce compounds with antifungal, antibiotic, and plant growth-promoting activities positions them as valuable agents in crop protection. In addition, with a high antioxidant capacity and immune-boosting properties, microalgae serve as high-value functional ingredients in aquaculture feeds.
Expected outcomes of the project include reaching nitrogen levels below the legal limit of discharge according to EU legislation, efficiently feeding CO2 captured from the air to the microalgae, significantly reducing freshwater and energy consumption and microalgae production costs, improving biomass productivity when compared to traditional microalgae production, and deliver more than eight new products.
The project comprises 16 partners, including five universities, five non-profit organisations, and six companies with complementary expertise that are merging their knowledge to move forward in the microalgae, agriculture and aquaculture sectors. In this way, REALM aims to develop an innovative, sustainable, and highly efficient strategy for microalgae biomass production and processing applicable to all European countries, thus unlocking the potential of microalgae for a thriving European blue bioeconomy.
The REALM project aims to overcome critical bottlenecks hindering the widespread commercialisation of microalgae-based products – such as the high production costs associated with microalgal biomass. These costs must be significantly reduced to make microalgae feedstocks more competitive than less sustainable sources. REALM addresses this challenge by focusing on five crucial inputs for industrial-scale microalgal biomass cultivation: water, nutrients, energy, CO2, and labour.
To this end, the project focuses on selecting and optimising resilient, productive and commercially relevant strains under continuous cultivation. Cultivation will be supported by novel sensors, A.I.-based predictive models and a cloud-based monitoring system to enhance operational efficiency. The continuous cultivation will be performed through low-cost membrane harvesting to recirculate the nutrient-rich drainage back to the system whenever necessary. A direct air capture prototype will be tested in the validation facilities to deliver 2-5 % CO2 to the cultures.
Downstream, the project adopted a biorefinery approach that maximises biomass valorisation and product development thus strengthening the competitiveness of algal-based products. REALM seeks to generate novel bioproducts with rising global market demand, such as biostimulants and biopesticides for agriculture and aquafeed ingredients for aquaculture. Microalgae's potential to produce compounds with antifungal, antibiotic, and plant growth-promoting activities positions them as valuable agents in crop protection. In addition, with a high antioxidant capacity and immune-boosting properties, microalgae serve as high-value functional ingredients in aquaculture feeds.
Expected outcomes of the project include reaching nitrogen levels below the legal limit of discharge according to EU legislation, efficiently feeding CO2 captured from the air to the microalgae, significantly reducing freshwater and energy consumption and microalgae production costs, improving biomass productivity when compared to traditional microalgae production, and deliver more than eight new products.
The project comprises 16 partners, including five universities, five non-profit organisations, and six companies with complementary expertise that are merging their knowledge to move forward in the microalgae, agriculture and aquaculture sectors. In this way, REALM aims to develop an innovative, sustainable, and highly efficient strategy for microalgae biomass production and processing applicable to all European countries, thus unlocking the potential of microalgae for a thriving European blue bioeconomy.
Drainwater characterisation revealed significant nutrient and metal concentration variations among the locations where facilities will be built. Finland and the Netherlands exhibited the highest levels of N and P. A total of 21 microalgae strains were tested to assess the feasibility of using microalgae for nutrient removal from drainwater.
In parallel, work is evolving on the development of cost-effective methods for pre-treating drainwater, successfully applying CFD tools in microalgae production systems, improving CO2 capture capacity, and optimising harvesting processes using membrane systems. Novel sensors for nutrients and culture monitorisation (growth and contamination) already show promise in their contribution to a more controlled and secure microalgae production. The design of a process flow diagram and control strategy for the processing chain that ensures optimal operation and performance is ongoing.
Closed cultivation systems were used for validation facilities in Finland and the Netherlands, while open cultivation systems were used for demonstration facilities in Portugal and Spain. Selected technologies and operation scenarios were successfully projected, and facility installations are underway.
Downstream, a biorefinery processing pipeline with seven generated fractions was developed. These fractions and preliminary biomass from partners' experiments were biochemically characterised, and preliminary lab-scale tests were conducted to ascertain potential for biopesticide and biostimulant products (for agriculture), and their functional potential in aquafeeds (for aquaculture). The project will be monitored and fine-tuned by techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), and a social-LCA.
In parallel, work is evolving on the development of cost-effective methods for pre-treating drainwater, successfully applying CFD tools in microalgae production systems, improving CO2 capture capacity, and optimising harvesting processes using membrane systems. Novel sensors for nutrients and culture monitorisation (growth and contamination) already show promise in their contribution to a more controlled and secure microalgae production. The design of a process flow diagram and control strategy for the processing chain that ensures optimal operation and performance is ongoing.
Closed cultivation systems were used for validation facilities in Finland and the Netherlands, while open cultivation systems were used for demonstration facilities in Portugal and Spain. Selected technologies and operation scenarios were successfully projected, and facility installations are underway.
Downstream, a biorefinery processing pipeline with seven generated fractions was developed. These fractions and preliminary biomass from partners' experiments were biochemically characterised, and preliminary lab-scale tests were conducted to ascertain potential for biopesticide and biostimulant products (for agriculture), and their functional potential in aquafeeds (for aquaculture). The project will be monitored and fine-tuned by techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment (LCA), and a social-LCA.
The REALM project has made significant progress in exploring the potential of microalgae as a more sustainable feedstock. The project is demonstrating the feasibility of using microalgae in agriculture freshwater management, thereby improving water quality and reducing production costs.
Aligned with the EU Green Deal's objectives, the project will also provide scientific evidence on environmental benefits and risk assessment of REALM's concept. This includes assessing the concept's impact through techno-economic, environmental and social analysis. By adopting this approach, we can improve and evaluate the project's success in providing sustainable water treatment technologies. Additionally, it offers farmers biological solutions to enhance crop growth and presents bioactive ingredients for aquaculture feeds. All of which culminates in increasing the competitiveness of more sustainable microalgae-based products.
The project will direct its efforts towards a high exploitation-track by presenting a business case to foster interest for potential stakeholders to increase the project's impact. The project's alignment with the EU's Green Deal and the promotion of a bluer and greener economy could help to create new opportunities for innovation and growth in the microalgae industry.
Aligned with the EU Green Deal's objectives, the project will also provide scientific evidence on environmental benefits and risk assessment of REALM's concept. This includes assessing the concept's impact through techno-economic, environmental and social analysis. By adopting this approach, we can improve and evaluate the project's success in providing sustainable water treatment technologies. Additionally, it offers farmers biological solutions to enhance crop growth and presents bioactive ingredients for aquaculture feeds. All of which culminates in increasing the competitiveness of more sustainable microalgae-based products.
The project will direct its efforts towards a high exploitation-track by presenting a business case to foster interest for potential stakeholders to increase the project's impact. The project's alignment with the EU's Green Deal and the promotion of a bluer and greener economy could help to create new opportunities for innovation and growth in the microalgae industry.