The project uses a 25,000-liter photobioreactor within a pilot-scale algal biorefinery to recycle carbon dioxide and other airborne industrial pollutants into algal biomass that can be further converted into sustainable products, including renewable biofuels and biomaterials. The process being deployed by CNRC experts and its partners is designed to rapidly recycle carbon dioxide and other airborne industrial emissions into biomass through photosynthesis.

Pond has developed a universal algae platform that provides optimal growth conditions for virtually any algae strain. Pond Technologies is supplying the photobioreactor and supporting structures, equipment, and personnel. CNRC will contribute its extensive expertise in microalgae biology, cultivation, and bioprocessing, as well as provide selected algae strains to the project and on-site resources to manage and operate the pilot biorefinery.

As part of Canada’s commitment to the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21), the Government of Canada joined a global effort to accelerate clean energy innovation, Mission Innovation, in November 2015 and committed to double funding for clean energy and clean technology research and development by 2020.