Neiker optimizes production phases in microalgae

In Spain, Neiker-Tecnalia has coordinated a research project to cultivate microalgae to produce lipids for obtaining biodiesel in a more cost-effective and more environmentally sustainable way. Researchers have optimized all the phases in the production process, from cultivation right up to transformation into biodiesel. The result is a quality biodiesel that is obtained when the microalgae biomass used contains at least 30% of reserve lipids.

The Energreen project has sought to re-adapt traditional microalgae cultures to obtain microorganisms with a high energy potential. Along the development of the project, specific culturing strategies based on nutrient limitation were established and these have made possible to obtain biomass with high lipid content. Thanks to this fact, the identifying of more effective extraction and transformation systems has been possible to obtain quality biodiesel.