OriginOil, developer of Electro Water Separation (EWS) has announced that it will provide algae harvesting technology for the low-cost algae growth system from Algasol Renewables.
The integrated system will be launched at Algasol’s new facilities in Bangladesh, with a large-scale demonstration of micro-algae production for fish feed.
With this technology showcase in Bangladesh, the feasibility of large-scale fish feed production operations capable of utilizing healthy and low-cost algae will be demonstrated, said, Miguel Verhein, executive director, Algasol Renewables.
In coming months, the Bangladesh site will be launched with local and national government support. Initially, the site will cover 6.5 acres capable of producing 25 tons of micro-algae per month.
Algae can be produced for feed using the patented technology at industry-low prices, and is negotiating agreements for micro-financing to help farmers in the delta region of Bangladesh to continue with this growth and pelletizing system.
Under this plan, Algasol will commit to two OriginOil harvesters with a processing capacity of 120 liters/minute each for the Bangladesh showcase in 2014. There will be a short term expectation of 40 more such units.
In a May, 2012 joint announcement, Algasol, collaborating with NASA and Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, agreed to bundle its offering with the OriginOil Algae Harvester, which is now further expanded to the present level.
Recently, Algasol launched a showcase site on the island of Mallorca of Spain, which OriginOil plans to equip for harvesting in spring 2015.
On the other hand, Algae production faces challenges like growing of algae quickly and efficiently, and harvesting it at a low cost.
Algasol has a patented technology for growing micro-algae in floating bags in a controlled, low-cost solution.
At OriginOil, a harvesting solution has been developed for algae, which when combined with Algasol technology gives efficient and quality production.
Bio-reactors are too expensive for massive scale, and open ponds cannot provide the contaminant-free environment, said, Jean-Louis Kindler, CCO, OriginOil.
In 2013, OriginOil inaugurated its Permanent Technology Showcase with a demonstration for local and state officials at Aqua Farming Tech, a sustainable fish farm in located in California.
Since then, OriginOil has continued to demonstrate efficient algae harvesting for fish feed at the site
Aquaculture is a huge and fast-growing industry. The $100 billion industry is expected to increase by 33 percent between 2012 and 2022, compared to an increase of only 3 percent in capture fisheries, according to the United Nations.