South African algae to energy venture commences with Port Elizabeth pilot: low-cost photobioreactor-based

In South Africa, Jacobs University in Germany has established a partnership with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, in Port Elizabeth to develop a pilot algae to energy venture.

The partners plan to expand to include new pilot production plants at breweries, refineries and cement factories in the Eastern Cape province by the end of 2010. The partnership will focus on the development of algae from a low cost, custom photobioreactor that has been tested at a power plant since last August.

The photobioreactor has the capability to produce 2 dry tonnes of algae biomass per year from the 800 square meter bioreactor. The partnership will also develop a 1000 square meter photobioreactor.

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