Algal technologies
How can InCrops help?
Algal technology is a rapidly moving and dynamic industry and InCrops is at the cutting-edge of new developments. As part of the innovative EnAlgae project, InCrops works in partnership to develop algal bioenergy technologies and to advance the emerging market place for algal products and processes in Europe.
Algae have a growing range of uses which include producing high-value proteins, as well as carbohydrates and lipids. There is increasing potential for impacting the supply chain with this non-GM protein for use in animal feed and the replacement of fish meal. Meanwhile, the carbohydrates and lipids produced have significant bioenergy applications.
InCrops is currently working with the water industry to use algae in the clean-up of nitrates. This nutrient recycling enables the retrieval of value from waste.
As this case study illustrates, modified liquid digestate from anaerobic digestion can also be used as growth medium for algae, which provides increased opportunity for the reuse of this bio-derived waste beyond agricultural application.
InCrops has also worked with a Cambridgeshire firm, linking the company with algal experts and analytical facilities, in order for them to develop a new process to extract bio-oils from algae. See our case study here.
Our Living Designs series of events examines how biology can be integrated into the built environment. Building designs are increasingly incorporating algae for different purposes, such as solar shading, thermal regulation, energy production and aesthetics. We see this as an emerging interdisciplinary field, and we are developing collaborations between biologists, architects, product designers and building engineers.
For more detailed information, you may be interested in our recent BBSRC Algae Scoping Study and the AB-SIG roadmap.