On 7^th October 2010, the kick-off meeting of the European project “BioAlgaeSorb”, a 3-year research financed by the European Commission on the subject of micro-algae for energy and not related use, coordinated by the Norwegian Bioenergy Association, was held at the Sea Marconi’s headquarters. Twelve partners from 6 member States participate, including 3 associations of companies (Norwegian Bioenergy Association, European Biomass Association, British Trout Association), 4 small/medium enterprises (Sea Marconi Technologies, IngrePro, Varicon Aqua Solutions, Value for Technology) and 5 research institutions (Swansea University). The BioAlgaeSorb project (“Enabling European SMEs to remediate wastes, reduce GHG emissions and produce biofuels via microalgae cultivation”) approved by the European Commission with contract no. 243752 signed in June 2010, has the objective of studying the micro algae chain, a biomass with a high visibility and interest, from the cultivation through the use of the products that can be obtained from them for energy related (bio fuels) and non- energy applications (bio-chemicals).

www.bioalgaesorb.com

In fact, microalgae represent a new great opportunity, both under a bioenergy point of view as source of bio products with a very high potential yield in terms of quantity of biomass per surface cultivated, much higher than other conventional cultivations. At the same time, they represent a great challenge for research on several fronts: from the technologies for cultivation, harvesting and separation, through the extraction and valorisation of the desired products.

The project has also a high environmental value for the capacity of microalgae to capture and segregate large quantities of atmospheric CO2 (greenhouse gas) and the possibility of proliferating in polluted waters, exploiting the pollutants themselves as a nutrient, thus reducing their concentration. Consequently, they can represent a fundamental link within a virtuous cycle aiming at the reduction of the environmental impact by anthropic activities.

The BioAlgaeSorb project has an important role within the conversion of biomasses into energy and biomaterials, in which Sea Marconi is engaged since several years with initiatives for research and industrial development with which the project fits with a synergic manner.

For more information: www.bioalgaesorb.com

Within the 7th Framework Program (FP7) a European project having Sea Marconi as a protagonist with other 12 enterprises and research organisms at Italian and European level has been approved. The designation of the project is BioAlgaeSorb (Enabling European SMEs to remediate wastes, reduce GHG emissions and produce biofuels via microalgae cultivation); its objectives are to integrate different technologies for the depuration of water effluents, the use of organic residues and CO2, the production of bioenergy and high added value bio-compounds, using the cultivation of microalgae as bearing element.

Sea Marconi participates by providing its know-how on pyrolysis (intermediate pyrolysis technology Haloclean) for applications in converting energy from microalgae and their residues. Also, Sea Marconi is involved with the research activity on enzymatic esterification of the lipids contained in microalgae (production of bio diesel) using its own nanosponges to carry the enzymes in an effective manner.

Partner del progetto:

• Norwegian Bioenergy Association
• European Biomass Association
• British Trout Association Ltd
• Sea Marconi Technologies s.a.s
• IngrePro BV
• Varicon Aqua Solutions Ltd
• Value for Technology BVBA
• Swansea University
• Teknologisk Institutt AS
• Durham University
• Hellenic Centre for Marine Research
• University of Florence