Farming algae from emissions

Vale's Clydach Nickel Refinery (CNR) in South Wales has been working with the RICE Group (Reducing Industrial Carbon Emissions) from Swansea University for the last two years.

 

The project aims to bridge the gap between ideas generated by research and developing these into commercial solutions that the industry can adopt. 

 

CNR was asked to work collaboratively with RICE to use industrial carbon dioxide to grow algae in an algae farm. 

Reaping what we sow

This project aims to demonstrate that industrially derived carbon dioxide could be used to grow algae to produce high-value products in the form of protein and pigments.

It is hoped that research will demonstrate that this can be done in a commercially sustainable way that can reduce GHG emissions from a site and do it in a way that can generate increased revenue/profit.

There is also potential for the algae to be used to clean trace amounts of nickel from process waters, which could further reduce already low emissions to the local environment.

Algae require energy (from the sun or artificial lighting), nutrients, and CO2 to photosynthesise and grow. The CO2 is being taken from the waste emissions of nickel refining and fed into the biorefinery. © 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emissions (RICE)
Algae require energy (from the sun or artificial lighting), nutrients, and CO2 to photosynthesise and grow. The CO2 is being taken from the waste emissions of nickel refining and fed into the biorefinery. © 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emissions (RICE)

RICE built a 40 metre-long polytunnel on land available at CNR to accommodate the algae. Two 7500-litre bioreactors were constructed inside the polytunnel to grow different strains of algae. 

The different strains of algae have started to grow, and evaluations continue to see how much carbon dioxide they consume along with the yields of high-value products they can potentially produce.

Initially, the first batches of algae will be freeze-dried and could be used directly as sustainable animal feed. In future, protein and pigments will be extracted from the algae.

This is one of the many initiatives supporting Vale’s goals to cut absolute carbon emissions 33% by 2030 and lower value-chain emissions 15% by 2035, aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

© 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emmissions (RICE)
© 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emmissions (RICE)
© 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emmissions (RICE)
© 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emmissions (RICE)

Did you know?

The algae strain called Spirulina was made famous by NASA as a dietary supplement on space missions and now is commonly used to treat a range of health-related issues such as fatigue, inflammation, allergies, and more. Pigments like phycocyanin (a deep blue colour) also have health benefits and a high commercial value.

 

For more information about the Algae farm, click here.

© 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emmissions (RICE)
© 2021 Reducing Industrial Carbon Emmissions (RICE)

More: Vale

Ask the experts