Overview of the INTERREG IVB NWE project EnAlgae --Shaun Richardson, EnAlgae project, Swansea University, UK--

1. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
EnAlgae Pilot Symposium, Kortrijk, 18th September 2014
Overview of the INTERREG IVB NWE project ‘EnAlgae’
Shaun Richardson
EnAlgae Project Coordinator, Swansea University, UK
www.enalgae.eu

2. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy EnAlgae is a 4-year, €14.6M Strategic Initiative of the INTERREG IVB North West Europe (NWE) Programme, funded through the EU’s ERDF and local co-funders.
The EnAlgae Project, 2011-2015

3. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The EnAlgae Partnership
1.Swansea University (Lead Partner, WP1 Leader)
2.Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes
3.National Non‐Food Crops Centre (WP2 Leader)
4.Birmingham City University (WP3 Leader)
5.Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe
6.European Biomass Industry Association
7.Universiteit Gent
8.InCrops Enterprise Hub
9.Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
10.Laborelec Group GDF SUEZ
11.National University of Ireland, Galway
12.Plymouth Marine Laboratory
13.Flanders Maritime Cluster
14.Queen's University Belfast
15.The Scottish Association for Marine Science
16.National University of Ireland Dublin, University College Dublin
17.UGent Campus Kortrijk
18.Wageningen UR (including Plant Research International)
19.Centre d’Etude et de Valorisation des Algues

4. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The EnAlgae Partnership
EnAlgae Partnership

5. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Algae in NWE: Fundamental Questions? Is algae a reasonable energy technology pathway for North West Europe? How is algal biotechnology integrated with existing activities? What energy targets make sense? Is the market support sufficient?

6. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Aims of the EnAlgae project
1.Address lack of verifiable information on algal productivity in NWE via a network of 9 pilot sites.
–Explore strategies for the sustainable production of algae-based bioenergy, integrated with GHG mitigation and bioremediation.
2.Identify political, economic, social and technological opportunities for algal bioenergy within NWE, delivering information for policy-makers, industry and investors.
3.Create a computer-based information system that supports business or organisational decision-making.
To develop sustainable pathways for algal bioenergy in NW Europe
Overall Aim:

7. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The EnAlgae Project
WP1
Pilot-scale algal biomass production
WP2 Assessing routes to market
WP3
DSTs to guide industry and policy

8. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
WP1 – NW European Network of Algal Pilots. Maximise the impact of pilot scale facilities via effective information exchange and knowledge transfer.
1. Nine algal pilot facilities
3. Best practice for algal strain selection and mass exploitation
2. Standardise data capture & management
4. Demonstrations for stakeholders

9. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Mass cultivation of microalgae in NW Europe: standardising and networking 6 pilot-scale facilities (BE, NL, UK, DE):
–Photobioreactors to 16,000 litres
–Open ponds, mobile MaB-floc reactor
–Controlled environment labs for characterising biomass
–Harvesting / disruption / fractionation technologies Focus on mass cultivation using liquid and gaseous waste streams.

10. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
EnAlgae pilot: Wageningen UR / ACRRES (NL) 2 x 250 m2 open ponds 2 open LED light-assisted pre-culture basins Settling tanks and centrifuges for harvesting Utilising waste streams:
–CO2 and low-grade heat from on-site CHP facility
–Nutrients from on-site anaerobic digestion unit

11. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy Mixed algae and bacteria, biofloculation (MaB-floc) reactor for wastewater treatment 12 m3 open pond + 400 litre pre-culture vat Heated & flue gas CO2 injection Moveable:
–2013 Inagro, Roeselare – waste water from pike perch aquaculture facility
>>>biogas, fertilizer, and shrimp feed
–2014 Alpro, Wevelgem – waste water from the food processing industry
EnAlgae pilot: Ghent University, Campus Kortrijk (BE)

12. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy 16,000 litre photobioreactor (PBR) Autoflocculating Thermophilic Cyanobacteria (passive, low energy harvesting) Direct heat and carbon capture from a 15 MW gas turbine power station
EnAlgae pilot: Nottingham Algal Biorefinery Facility (UK)

13. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy Botanic Gardens, Cambridge Key Pilot facilities:
–300 litre tubular semi-closed bioreactor system
–5 to 10 litre plastic bag reactors with aeration system controlled growth incubators Nitrate-rich brine wash from the water industry Polar algal species – a solution for NW Europe?
EnAlgae pilot:
Cambridge Algal Innovation Centre (UK)

14. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy Sterile culture repository 20 x 100 litre batch culture capacity, controlled environment lab PBRs – combined capacity 3,600 litres Liquid & gaseous wastes:
–In-line wood burner for flue gas CO2 and NO trials
–On-site aquaculture facility for N&P wastes
EnAlgae pilot:
Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Research

15. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy Algal growth & preparation laboratories - TATA steelworks 12x 80L reactors and 36x 20L carboys or flasks suitable for flue gas trails and culture adaptation experiments Preliminary trials on high concentration of CO2 provided the basis for flue gas trails
EnAlgae pilot:
Tata Steel Algal Growth Laboratory (UK)

16. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Mass cultivation of macroalgae in NW Europe Aiming to improve on each phase of the seaweed cultivation process by sharing knowledge between partners: Communicate: workshops, on-site demonstration, technical manuals, Produce seedlings in purpose-built hatcheries Grow biomass at sea and monitor environmental parameters at the same time
In a standard manner to compare and improve reliability of data
etc.

17. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
EnAlgae pilot: CEVA, Pleubian (FR) 165 m² hatchery 250 m² inland facility Seawater pumping station, storage capacity 65 m3 Several test sites at sea : 4-18 ha Upgrading of facility
Alt = 210 km
CEVA
Sea farm #1
Land-based tanks
Sea farm #3

18. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
EnAlgae pilot: QUB Portaferry (UK)
Alt = 22 km 30.45 m² hatchery Near-shore test site at sea: 7.3 ha Workshops, demonstrations & stakeholder attitudes surveys Using eco-materials for anchors to promote benthic communities
Hatchery tanks Sprayed collectors Saccarina Lots of outreach!

19. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The EnAlgae Project
WP1 Pilot-scale algal biomass production
WP2 Routes to market
WP3 DSTs to guide industry and policy

20. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
WP2 - Sustainable algae to energy market for NW Europe
Identify political, economic, social and technological opportunities for algal bioenergy within NWE, delivering information for policy-makers, industry and investors.
Deliver information for policy makers, industry and investors
1. Assess market and economics; assess technology expertise
2. Undertake policy landscaping analysis
3. Define regulatory & planning issues
4. Identify life- cycle analysis and sustainability issues
Outputs: - Annual report card - Reports - Workshops

21. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
The EnAlgae Project
WP1 Pilot-scale algal biomass production
WP2 Routes to market
WP3 DSTs to guide industry and policy

22. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
WP3 – Decision Support Systems (DSS) for practitioners, policy makers and investors
Combine information from the algal-bioenergy delivery chain into an ICT tool to guide decision making, identify knowledge gaps and provide a roadmap for the sustainable deployment of algal bioenergy in NWE.
1. Develop modular ICT framework to capture general and specialised process knowledge
2. Test tool using different algal biomass production scenarios
3. Launch ICT tool via online Algal Information Network (AIN) - 2015

23. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
Stay informed... enalgae.eu
–Reports & publications
–News, events Newsletter (sign-up on our web site) Social media:
–Twitter: @EnAlgae_NWE

24. Sustainable Pathways for Algal Bioenergy
www.enalgae.eu info@enalgae.eu
EnAlgae is a Strategic Initiative of the INTERREG IVB NWE Programme