Algae 'growth' tech scales up
A patented helix-shaped photobioreactor could grow algae on a massive scale.
An Australian biotech company has made a splash with a new algae-based platform that’s attracted $1.1 million in funding.
Algenie, founded by scientist and serial entrepreneur Nick Hazell, is set on tackling climate change and cutting the world's reliance on fossil fuels.
To do this, Algenie has come up with a new way to grow algae on a massive scale using a patented helix-shaped photobioreactor. This is designed to produce algae way more efficiently and at a fraction of the cost of old-school methods.
Algae is more than a fast-growing micro plant, it’s also a CO2-absorbing powerhouse, and is also capable of replacing the raw materials used in plastics and fuels. But scaling up production has always been a hurdle.
"Our helix design and technology is a true breakthrough, paving the way for algae-based solutions to become economically competitive with, and ultimately replace, traditional fossil fuel-based products."
Algenie says its tech makes it possible to grow billions of tonnes of algae much more cheaply, slashing production costs to around $1 per kilogram.
As Hazell puts it: “Our helix design and technology is a true breakthrough, paving the way for algae-based solutions to become economically competitive with, and ultimately replace, traditional fossil fuel-based products.”
The photobioreactor is also space efficient. In the size of a shipping container, it can churn out 100 tonnes of algae a year. That’s enough to make 2.5 million carbon-positive plastic bottles, its maker says. Algenie’s setup is also more space-efficient compared to traditional crops like soy or corn.
Global ambitions
The early-stage investors in the tech include Better Bite Ventures and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). The partnership with UTS not only provides funding but also access to research and resources for developing algae strains further.
Professor Chris Turney from UTS says: “By combining our biotech know-how with Algenie’s production technology, we’re accelerating the development of an algae tech platform that could play a crucial role in mitigating climate change.”
Looking ahead, Algenie plans to use its funding to scale up production and team up with partners to help push the platform into the global market, with potential uses in biofuels, sustainable plastics, textiles, and fish aquaculture.
The startup also plans to license the technology and collaborate on large-scale production infrastructure.
Algenie’s photobioreactor system uses a continuous helical channel and advanced LEDs to optimise algae growth, with some species doubling every 2-3 hours. It says the system can produce 100 tonnes of algae annually in a space the size of a shipping container, making it 3000 times more efficient than traditional crops like soy or corn. The continuous harvesting process ensures constant, cost-effective production. Developed with research from the University of Technology Sydney’s Climate Change Cluster, Algenie says the system is more efficient and affordable than previous methods, with ongoing collaboration to improve algae strains.
