CTS Engtec and Cursor had an international publication of the introduction to the study "Algae farming as raw material to the biogas plants." in Pulpaper2010- exhibition in Helsinki on the 2nd of June.
Applying algae farming on industrial scale, CTS provides the opportunity to take advantage of the company's broad expertise in industrial processes and energy, in particular:
- Algae farming industry utilizes different waste flows and carbon dioxide is also captured in the process among other emissions. Algae farming brings along new facilities in addition to the existing plant and processes as well as increases productivity, says Antti Lukka, CEO of CTS Engtec.
-Algae can be used in plants of different scale. One of the advantages is that new technology-based high-risk investments in the innovation are not needed at all, Lukka continues.
-Absolute advantage of algae exploitation is little need for new resources.
-Algae farming does not compete with food production and it does not require fertile land, lists Antti Lukka algae farming and production advantages.
Algae farming is closely connected with the biogas plant located in Anjala, Kouvola. Algae growing process is integrated with the anaerobic digestion process. Farming of algae is examined to prove whether its growth in the local conditions satisfies bigger scale biogas plant needs and also to determine possible problems in the up scaling of the algae farming process, which is also big challenge. The project aims to use only those nutrients, which are available through wastes and side streams from industry thus not competing with food crops on fertilizer.
Alga research institute expands on the best way of growing micro-algae and the plant model which would take into account the local conditions and costs. By experimenting we have selected the best algae strains for the conditions in Finland. These conditions are for example the availability of heat and light. Experimental tests also explain what types of algae will grow most efficiently within each by-product or by-product mixture.
