The project has passed a key milestone and we’re now committed to building a ca. 500L pilot plant. This is a key deliverable for the programme in order to learn what’s necessary to progress to the next scale (e.g. 20,000L) of development.
But we can’t just buy a bioreactor off the shelf. The novel design needs to cater to the needs of the two key microorganisms – a phototrophic microalgae that likes light, and an acid-loving bacterium that likes to grow in the dark using organic carbon as its energy source.
We’re still working on the design, which has been informed by lab-scale studies and investigations using an 80L bioreactor. The bioreactor needs to be able to tune parameters to optimise growth conditions for the co-culture. The design has also been informed by market data, financial modelling and industry guidance.
The next phase of the project will focus on detailed design, equipment procurement and construction of the 500L pilot plant. The goal is to have a pilot plant in operation by late 2026. The pilot facility will produce larger quantities of biomass for testing.
The project governance group are confident with the direction that the project is going and the team’s ability to implement the next steps. We would like to thank everyone involved in the project to date for their input and support.
