Algae biopanels

2022: Start of sales of biopanels

In mid-July 2022, Mexican startup Greenfluidics introduced and began selling biopanels that generate energy, absorb carbon dioxide and pump out biomass, and can then be used as fuel or fertilizer.

Then it is passed through water impregnated with selected strains of algae that absorb CO2, as well as through sunlight. There is a process of photosynthesis, in which the biomass increases and produces oxygen, and the more sunlight is available, the faster the algae will grow: they absorb about 0.6 m sq of carbon dioxide for every 0.3 m sq of algae.

Algae biopanels

These panels also trap heat in the water, which serves two purposes: first, the panels installed outside shade the building, reducing energy consumption by air conditioners in the summer, and second, that heat can be collected, just like the biomass itself. The generated biomass is periodically filtered in the form of a puree-like mass, then taken and processed into combustible biofuel, which is then returned to the building and supplied to the burner, which ensures the operation of the hot water supply system of the building. Through biomass fuel and heat generated from the water in the panels, they can sustainably cover about a third of their energy needs to heat the water.

Greenfluidics wants to make several changes to this process. The main innovation is thermal capture and transformation. In an interview with Mexico Business News, Greenfluidics CEO Miguel Mayorga described how his company's system uses nanofluids, in fact, recyclable carbon nanoparticles are added to water to increase its thermal conductivity. Water passes through one side of the panels, improving heat capture, and algae are grown on the other side. The heat in this case is converted directly into electricity through a thermoelectric generator and supplied to the building, making these algae panels more similar to traditional solar panels.

According to developers from Greenfludics, each biopanel can generate up to 328 kVt·ch per meter of square energy per year and save up to 90 kVt·ch per meter of square energy per year by cooling the building. The company expects to bring the product to market in early 2023.^[1]

Notes