A photobioreactor to produce microalgae starts operating

The GICON® Octagon photobioreactor, part of the EU-funded project Space@Sea, is put into operation today, in Cottbus, Germany. The technology aims to produce microalgae that could be used for the cosmetics or food and animal feed industry as well as in the future as an energy carrier.

This event marks the next step in the industrial production of microalgae, and a step forward towards a bio-based future.
Photobioreactors are used to produce microalgae. The microscopic algae consume little water, have high productivity and, compared to plants such as corn or oilseed rape, require less land to produce biomass. In addition, they are rich in ingredients and serve as a raw material supplier for the cosmetics or food and animal feed industry as well as in the future as an energy carrier.

The Octagon photobioreactor is intended to be used to develop a microalgae cultivation system expected to be implemented into offshore conditions as part of the “ocean multiplatform and standardised and cost efficient modular island with low ecological impact”, pilot project developed under Space@Sea project – managed by the Research Executive Agency.

This technology is one of the concepts that forms part of the project Space@Sea WP 8 - Farming@Sea, and has been developed by GICON, one of Space@Sea partners.