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IMPROVING PHOTOSYNTHETIC SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION IN MICROALGAL CULTURES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOFUELS AND HIGH VALUE PRODUCTS

Description du projet

Améliorer la conversion de l’énergie solaire photosynthétique pour les biocarburants et les produits à haute valeur ajoutée

L’énergie solaire est la source renouvelable la plus abondante qui soit, et la conversion de l’énergie lumineuse en énergie chimique par les organismes photosynthétiques, tels que les algues, constitue son principal mécanisme de conversion. L’exploitation des microalgues pour la fabrication de biocarburants présente l’avantage considérable d’être durable et de ne pas entrer en concurrence avec la production alimentaire. Pour le moment, l’efficacité photosynthétique maximale des microalgues est de 10 %. Toutefois, les estimations indiquent une production potentielle pouvant atteindre 80 %. Le projet SOLENALGAE, financé par le CER, étudiera la base moléculaire de la conversion efficace de l’énergie lumineuse en énergie chimique, afin d’augmenter la production de biomasse dans les microalgues. Pour y parvenir, l’équipe se penchera sur les principes de cette conversion grâce à l’ingénierie biotechnologique des souches d’algues.

Objectif

Solar Energy is the most abundant renewable energy source available for our Planet. Light energy conversion into chemical energy by photosynthetic organisms is indeed the main conversion energy step, which originated high energy containing fossil deposits, now being depleted. By the way, plant or algae biomass may still be used to produce biofuels, as bio-ethanol, bio-diesel and bio-hydrogen. Microalgae exploitation for biofuels production have the considerable advantages of being sustainable and not in competition with food production, since not-arable lands, waste water and industrial gasses can be used for algae cultivation. Considering that only 45% of the sunlight covers the range of wavelengths that can be absorbed and used for photosynthesis, the maximum photosynthetic efficiency achievable in microalgae is 10%. On these bases, a photobioreactor carrying 600 l/m-2 would produce 294 Tons/ha/year of biomass of which 30% to 80%, depending on strain and growth conditions, being oil. However this potential has not been exploited yet, since biomass and biofuels yield on industrial scale obtained up to now were relatively low and with high costs of production. The main limitation encountered for sustained biomass production in microalgae by sunlight conversion is low light use efficiency, reduced from the theoretical value of 10% to 1-3%. This low light use efficiency is mainly due to a combined effect of reduced light penetration to deeper layers in highly pigmented cultures, where light available is almost completely absorbed by the outer layers, and an extremely high (up to 80%) thermal dissipation of the light absorbed. This project aims to investigate the molecular basis for efficient light energy conversion into chemical energy, in order to significantly increase the biomass production in microalgae combining a solid investigation of the principles of light energy conversion with biotechnological engineering of algal strains.

Régime de financement

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

Institution d’accueil

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI VERONA
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 1 341 875,00
Adresse
VIA DELL ARTIGLIERE 8
37129 Verona
Italie

Voir sur la carte

Région
Nord-Est Veneto Verona
Type d’activité
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Liens
Coût total
€ 1 341 875,00

Bénéficiaires (2)