Information on Microalgae & Photobioreactors
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Microalgae present a sustainable and versatile resource for various applications, including food, feed, energy, and pharmaceuticals, with significantly higher CO2 binding capacity than conventional plants. Their cultivation does not compete with food production, and they can be grown in non-arable land, providing a potential solution to global nutritional and ecological challenges. Subitec GmbH specializes in microalgae cultivation technology, offering innovative photobioreactors to support mass production and maximize economic benefits from this renewable resource.
Information on Microalgae & Photobioreactors
- 2. 2 Microalgae is THE renewable resource Five to tenfold higher surface area productivity No competition to food production Efficient utilization of microalgae ingredients Utilization of CO2 directly from industrial processes Five to ten times higher CO2 binding capacity Lignocellulose-free - more value from biomass Designable biomass Resource saving cultivation MOTIVATION Why microalgae? Microalgae are multitalents. Clean energy can be produced from algae biomass in form of biodiesel. It can serve as dietary supplement for humans, but most importantly it is an indispensable feed source in aquacultures and therefore serves the nourishment of mankind in the future. Cultivation of microalgae is in no competition with food production. Furthermore, the valuable ingredients like fine chemicals that can be obtai- ned from microalgae, can be used for cosmetic and other products. Last but not least microalgae bind five to ten times more CO2 than conven- tional terrestrial plants and therewith contribute essentially to the unloa- ding and protection of the atmosphere. Today approximately 50 % of the today's oxygen in our atmosphere is produced by the algae of the oceans. Hence, algae biomass is an all around "clean" product that, thanks to Subitec´s technology, can be mass produced in a cost efficient manner. Microalgae is becoming increasingly important as a viable solution to many of the growing global challenges mankind is faced with. Nutrition Energy Resources A healthy and sustainable solution for the global food and feed demand. A natural source of ingre- dients for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. A still unexploited gigantic, ecological energy reserve © Subitec GmbH
- 3. 3 PRINCIPLE The operating principle of Subitec cultivation technology. Resources Products © Subitec GmbH
- 4. 4 MEGATRENDS Nutrition. The global population is increasing in much faster than the available food sources. Due to soil erosion former farmland is lost and the oceans are over fished. Mankind is in urgent need of affordable and ecological justifiable food sources. Algae are a good protein source for food and feed. + 200,000 -20,000 5,000,000 500,000,000 2 15 Worldwide utilization of primary energy in megawatt hours per day. Worldwide draught per day in tons Worldwide decrease of farm- land in hectares per day . Energy. Energy demand of mankind is growing constantly. At the same time fossil energy sources are decreasing and sooner than later have to be replaced by sustainable energy sources. Here algae can play a role in two respects: utilization for ecological production of biofuel and concurrently reduction of anthropogenic caused CO2-emission. Worldwide population growth per day. Worldwide decrease of farm- land in hectares per day . Worldwide draught per day in tons: the oceans are over- fished. © Subitec GmbH
- 5. 5 MEGATRENDS CO2. The global carbon circulation is in an unsteady condition. On the one side billions of tons of CO2 are released through combustion of fossil energy sources and on the other side forest ground is reduced dramatically. As of right now the majority of oxygen on earth is already produced by algae. + 93,000,000 - 66,000 50 Consumption of sweet water for the production of one kilogram of conventional biomass (e.g. rice) in liter. Amount of total atmospheric oxygen produced by algae in percent. Worldwide output of phos- phor (fertilizer base) in tons per day: bearish tendency. Resources. Reduced availability of sweet water is a growing problem. Algae can be cultivated in brackish water or sea water. The depletability of fertilizer components like phosphor requires a diligent usage of such. This is given only in closed circulations. The worldwide depleting farmland is too valu- able for cultivation of biomass for energy production on the remaining land critical. These have to be used for food production. Therefore the production of herbal energy sources on fallow has to be ensured. Here microalgae biotechnology provides a huge potential. Hence many resources are finitely and therefore force us to develop sustainable me- thods. Worldwide atmospheric CO2 -surplus in tons per day. Worldwide deforestation of tropical rain forest in hecta- Worldwide loss of conventio- nally used agricultural land in 3,000 270 - 20,000 © Subitec GmbH
- 6. 6 Approximately 50% of the oxygen on our planet is produced photosynthetically by fixation of CO2 by the algae in our oceans. The other lions share is produced also photosynthetically by other marine and terrestrial plants and the trees in the forests. The consequence of cutting down forests is defor- estation and erosion that ultimately leads to desertification. The use of fertilizers is adding to the acidification of our ocean and disturbing such the marine ecosystem. Hence, it is evident that the current path is not only straining our planet’s primary means for fixation of CO2 by photosynthesis but in fact adding to the problem. SUSTAINABILITY The word sustainability has been used for the first time in the German lan- guage in connection with a balanced wood economy more than 100 years ago: "Living wood biomass which can be harvested in a distinct time to be used elsewhere should not exceed the mass reproduced in the same period. By this definition consumption and renewal is kept in balance and as such the commodity will be available to future generations in equal amounts. Mass balance thinking is imperative for a green economy. A green economy does not rely on fossil and non-renewable resources but is rather organized as a circular economy. The utilization of resources and production is com- bined with the recovery and reuse of material and energy such that the crea- tion of waste is minimized. The paradigm change toward a green economy is driven by growing global problems created by pollution, waste and the evident socioeconomic mega- trends. The consequences of the continuing dependence on fossil energy resources is the increasing concentration of CO2 and particulate dust in our atmosphere. In many cities unhealthy concentrations of above 400 ppm are today more the rule than the exception and creating a potentially huge future healthcare and social burden for communities. Furthermore, as the global population grows there is an increased demand for nutrition, especially protein. This development becomes evident when viewing the increasing food production that has resulted in an increased use of fertilizers and cutting down forests to gain more arable land. However, all this is not sustainable and comes at a huge expense to future generations. The issue. © Subitec GmbH
- 7. 7 SUSTAINABILITY Microalgae have a huge potential for economic exploitation? On one hand, they can be used as a source of protein, fatty acids and oth- er ingredients for food, feed and on the other hand, they can be used as a source for energy and fuel, and they can even be used as fertilizers. Other applications of microalgae include cosmetics, dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals. There is a whole variety of applications for microalgae with great potential for future economic gains sustainably. One possible solution to counter the aforementioned consequences can be found in microalgae. Microalgae have a variety of uses and it can grow, when cultured industrially, up to 10 times faster than traditional plants. Microalgae can be grown on non-arable land; Rather than releasing CO2, culturing micro- algae fixates CO2 whereby the CO2 could be e.g. flue gas from a nearby power plant; other process media can also be gained from effluent from e.g. agricul- tural waste waters, thus using the residues of fertilizers that otherwise would be wasted. The idea and necessity for a change to a green and sustainable economy is widely publicly supported. However, it is currently mainly reliant on govern- ment funding and new regulation should such pass the possible objection and lobby of powerful interest groups. The global imbalance of wealth and resources together with the tendency of money markets to focus on short term gains simply does not support a much needed change toward a green economy. Hence, the world needs more investment with long term perspec- tive and such stewardship and leadership to facilitate change with global im- pact toward a green and sustainable economy. The solution. © Subitec GmbH
- 8. 8 FASCINATION ALGAE It is estimated that there are between 250 thousand to several million dif- ferent algae species. Thereof only 35 000 species have been scientifically recorded so far. There are around 5 thousand algae species available from culture collec- tions around the world. However, only round 20 species are currently utilized for commercial applications. Given the commercial applications of today have been achieved with only a few microalgae species, the thousands of still undiscovered and unu- tilized species present a huge potential for further economic exploitation. Algae species cultivated in FPA-reactors (excerpt). Enormous potential. In human history cultivated species: Algae are only cultivated in more recent past. Their potential is enormous and have not yet been exhausted. © Subitec GmbH Marine Isochrysis sp.; Tetraselmis suecica; Platymonas subcordiformis; Rhodomonas baltica; Nannochloropsis salina; Nannochloropsis gaditana; Diaconema lutheri (Pavlova) Brakish Phaeodactylum tricornutum; Nannochloropsis oculata; Porphyridium purpureum Freshwater Chlorella vulgaris; Chlorella sorokiniana; Haematococcus pluvialis; Chlamydomonas rheinhardtii; Scenedesmus obliquus; Spirogyra sp. Cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina); Thermosynechococcus elongatus; Synechoccus elongatus; Cyanobacterium cf. aponium
- 9. 9 FASCINATION ALGAE Algae are a fascinating life form. They live as plantlike organism usually in water and conduct photosynthesis. Nevertheless, they do not belong to the conventional plants. There is a variety of different algae. They can be multicel- lular organisms visible to the eye such as seaweed, or they can be microsco- pic single cell organisms less than a millimeter in size. Unlike conventional plants, each and every algae cell is capable of photosynthesis. Microalgae have all the important characteristics of plants from an economi- cal utilization standpoint — they need nutrients, light (which can be either sunlight or artificial light or both) and CO2 as a carbon source. Given the right conditions they grow and produce biomass that contains various valu- able substances that can be used for producing food, feed, energy and e.g. ingredients for nutraceuticals, cosmetics and for pharmaceutical applications. Since microalgae are cultivated in special photobioreactors on land, they can be cultivated on otherwise lost barren soil. Unlike the cultivation of crops for energetic purposes, the cultivation of microalgae doesn't stand in competiti- on with food production. All this considered, microalgae are extremely potent organisms for the econo- mical utilization for mankind. Microalgae – microscopic multitalents. © Subitec GmbH
- 10. 10 Substances of variable value: the cheaper, the bigger the market volume. With Subitec´s technology theoretically every sector can be served. PRODUCTS In comparison to other renewable sources, microalgae have a tremendous variety of poten- tial uses, due to their high content in protein, fatty acids and other valuable substances. The entire biomass produce can be fractioned and used for different products of different values and the fact that microalgae biomass is designable only adds to the spectrum of applications and economic potential of microalgae. An excellent spectrum of products and ingredients. © Subitec GmbH
- 11. 11 By controlling the biological growth parameters in photobioreactors, microalgae can be cultivated to produce high protein, high carbohydrate or high lipid content. DESIGNABLE BIOMASS The growth and metabolic activity of algae depends on light, temperature and the growth environment i.e. water quality, pH and CO2. In nature, microalgae adapt relatively quickly to changes in the environment, light and temperature conditions. Different microalgae species have react differently to changes but they all will metabolize the necessary substances to cope with the prevailing conditions. This is a most beneficial feature to algae as it means, that microalgae pro- cesses in photobioreactors can be ‘designed’ to produce certain substances without the need for genetic modification. Yes, genetic modification is also possible and practiced, but for the most microalgae applications today, using the tools that nature has provided is sufficient. Hence, ‘designable biomass’ does not mean the genetic modification of microalgae. Designable biomass refers to the selection of a suitable algae species and using natural biological means to achieve a desired composition of substances, i.e. protein, carbohy- drate and lipid content, in the biomass. Closed photobioreactors like the Subitec FPA photobioreactor, provide excel- lent control over the biological growth parameters and enable such efficient means to produce valuable substances sustainably by cultivating microalgae. Various conditions can be reproduced with the Subitec Photobioreactors and the culturing conditions can be varied based on the desired metabolic reac- tion of the microalgae. Making efficient use of the tools that nature has provided. © Subitec GmbH
- 12. 12 Microalgae can be manipulated to high protein, high carbohydrate or high lipid content as required. ADDED VALUE For a power plant operator may the high CO2 demand of algae cultivation be of interest. But what to do with the biomass? A pharmaceutical com- pany is in need of a specific valuable substance. But what to do with the residuals? A fish feed manufacturer is in need of protein rich feed for an affordable rate. The key for especially efficient usage of algae cultivation lies often enough in cooperation of several companies of various indust- ries in common projects. Thereby the algal biomass cultivated for CO2 sequestration is supplied to the pharmaceutical company for extraction of valuable compounds. The residual algal biomass (ca. 95 %) can be processed to protein rich feed or can directly be used energetically. For economic and ecological meaning- ful utilization of algae an exhaustive exploitation is vital. Subitec is active in various business areas and therefore can find soluti- ons for specific requirements and connect relevant companies as part- ners. This support provides enormous economical synergies within a corporation and among corporations. Joint algae cultivation of partnering corporations. © Subitec GmbH
- 13. 13 SUBITEC FLAT PANEL AIRLIFT PHOTOBIOREACTORS Proven solutions for microalgae cultivation. LABORATORY EQUIPMENTPRODUCTION SYSTEMS EXPERTISE / SERVICES © Subitec GmbH Subitec is a German technology company headquartered in Stuttgart that specializes in process engineering and the supply of microalgae cultivation equipment and turn-key production systems. Established as a spin off from the Fraunhofer Institute, Subitec looks back at more than 20 years of experience with microalgae. Subitec is the devel- oper and technology owner of the unique and patented Flat Panel Airlift (FPA) photobioreactor. Today, Subitec's equipment is used for cultivating high value microalgae that find application in e.g. nutraceuticals, aquacul- ture, cosmetics and healthcare. We are a passionate team and thrive to always deliver our best to our cus- tomers and partners. Our expertise and services include process develop- ment, laboratory cultivation equipment, turn-key supply of production plants and technical support. Subitec GmbH Julius-Hölder-Str. 36 70597 Stuttgart Phone: +49 711 3654029-0 Email: info@subitec.com www.subitec.com ; Follow us on LinkedIN for periodic news and updates LABORATORY EQUIPMENTPRODUCTION SYSTEMS