Climate Protection with Microalgae
The green CO2 storage of the future
2023/06/29 by Laurent Brune
Smart and highly efficient algal photobioreactors (PBRs) can be used to convert the industry-related byproduct CO2, which drives climate change, into a valuable raw material.
At the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (etit) at TU Darmstadt, scientists are developing highly efficient algae reactors together with partners from industry. Special sensor systems are used to measure algae density, LED exposure and current sunlight.
Professor Tran Quoc Khanh
By combining our sensor system with prediction models for solar radiation and energy costs, the energy consumption per kilogram of biomass is reduced to a minimum.
With their ability to capture CO2, which accounts for 88 percent of the greenhouse gases released in Germany, PBRs are an attractive and long-term solution to reduce industrial greenhouse gases. In addition, cultivating algae in PBRs offers the opportunity to efficiently and sustainably meet the demand for raw materials for food, animal feed, plastics and energy production, for example, in the future – an important issue in light of climate change and continued global population growth.
Super substance microalgae
Microalgae are microscopic algae that are invisible to the naked eye. They offer a wide range of applications and can be used to produce superfoods, skin care products, pharmaceuticals and fertilizers. They also provide an alternative energy source to non-renewable fossil fuels and can serve as raw materials for bioplastics. Due to their ability to sequester CO2, microalgae are an attractive and long-term alternative to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
Electrical engineering deals with the development and application of electronic systems and devices. In the case of algae reactors, this concerns sensor systems, measuring devices and control systems. The study in electrical engineering enables you to deal with innovative and future-oriented topics such as renewable energies, energy storage, automation and control technology in your profession.
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