AlgaTECH Facility
AlgaTECH FACILITY
AlgaTech is a pilot-scale facility dedicated to advancing microalgae production, biorefinery concepts, and applied algal biotechnology, with a strong focus on scale-up research.
The facility combines a modern analytical laboratory with pilot-scale photobioreactors (PBRs) located in climate-controlled greenhouses, enabling both laboratory- and large-scale cultivation in Nordic. Core laboratory capabilities include biomass analysis, water characterization, microscopy, and inoculum preservation. In addition, AlgaTech develops tailored pre-treatment solutions for a wide range of industrial effluents.
Infrastructure includes:
Photobioreactors (50 L, 65 L, and 1,000 L systems)
SANI membrane filtration units
Wastewater treatment and reuse infrastructure
Greenhouse and environmental monitoring systems
Strain Selection and Development
The NordAqua Culture Collection database (nordaqua.fi/our-culture-collection/) provides detailed data on over 2,000 algal and cyanobacterial strains isolated from Nordic environments. This resource supports both fundamental research and industrial applications, enabling strain selection and development for diverse processes.
Algae Production and Harvesting
AlgaTech operates a range of photobioreactors, including tubular and bubble column systems, supporting flexible process development. LED lighting systems enable year-round cultivation under Nordic conditions.
Scalable biomass recovery is achieved by integrating cultivation systems with vibrating membrane filtration technology. A fully automated 1,000 L PBR operates continuously within a controlled greenhouse, with real-time monitoring ensuring precise control of key process parameters. A pilot-scale vibrating cross-flow filtration unit further enables efficient harvesting, separation, and concentration of algal biomass.