Solar collection and processing for more cost effective algal biofuel production

藻类为大规模生产碳中性生物燃料带来了巨大希望，这种燃料可以避免陆地生物燃料(如棕榈油)的许多问题，因为它们只需要陆地作物约10%的空间，并且可以利用废水来生长和营养。然而，目前的生产系统相对于化石燃料和第一代生物燃料来说都不经济，需要进行重大的循序渐进的改进来解决这个问题。这项可行性研究由位于欧班的生物技术公司Xanthella牵头，与圣安德鲁斯大学的物理学家合作，旨在实现藻类光生物反应器(PBR)在太阳能照明下运行以生产碳中性生物燃料的性价比的阶段性变化。这将通过开发一种创新的太阳能收集组件来实现，该组件用于Xanthella的内部照明光生物反应器设计。

Algae hold great promise for the large scale production of carbon-neutral biofuels that avoid many of the problems of terrestrial biofuels (such as palm oil) in that they require only about 10% of the space of terrestrial crops and can use waste water for growth and their nutrients. Current production systems are, however, uneconomic against both fossil and first generation biofuels and require significant step wise improvements to redress this.This feasibility study, led by Xanthella - a biotechnology company based in Oban - in collaboration with physicists from the University of St Andrews, aims to deliver a step change in the performance-cost ratio of algal photo bioreactors (PBRs) operating under solar illumination for the production of carbon neutral biofuels. This will be achieved through the development of an innovative solar light collection component for use in Xanthella's internally-lit photobioreactor designs.