The demonstration pilot is one of the milestones expected from the Integrated Sustainable Algae (InteSusAl) project in which Wageningen UR is involved. The project is aiming to optimise the production of algae for biodiesel by both heterotrophic and phototrophic routes. It will demonstrate the integration of these technologies to achieve microalgae cultivation targets of 90-120 dry tonnes per hectare per year. The InteSusAl Consortium is composed of 6 partners from 4 European countries and the trials are expected to begin in October 2014.
“InteSusAl’s demonstration unit comes in a time of extreme importance to ensure Europe’s energy supply security” said Dr Neil Hindle, coordinator of the InteSusAl project. “We are glad that the European Commission is making it possible to demonstrate this new approach to produce microalgae biomass. We hope that our results will attract attention from investors interested in financing a 10-hectare site to produce microalgae in a sustainable manner on an industrial scale.”
The project integrates heterotrophic and phototrophic production technologies, using bio-diesel glycerol as carbon source to the heterotrophic unit and validating the biomass output for bio-diesel conversion. It will be located in the municipality of Olhão, in the Algarve region of Southern Portugal and will consist of a set of fermentation units, tubular photobioreactors and raceways. The sustainability of this demonstration, in terms of both economic and environmental (closed carbon loop) implications will be considered across the whole process, assessed via a robust life cycle analysis.
InteSusAl has received funding for the project from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstrations.
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