Pond Technologies and AB Agri explore algae based methane reduction strategies
BioCarbN Inc, an environmental infrastructure project developer and operator, and its development partner, Cross River Infrastructure Partners, along with an unidentified agribusiness group are also involved in the research project.
"We are extremely excited to sign this research agreement with BioCarbN, in collaboration with AB Agri and another forward-thinking major agriculture company," said Pond Technologies' CEO, Grant Smith. "We believe this is just the start in capturing a significant opportunity to help in reducing emissions from cattle globally. The global cattle feed market is over US$75bn annually and this represents another step towards commercializing our algae growth platform into globally important markets, across numerous applications."
Carbon capture technology
Located in Markham, Ontario, Pond is focused on controlled environment cultivation of microalgae. Its proprietary patented system is designed to profitably transform CO2 into valuable products. The company grows algae that absorbs greenhouse gas emissions and transforms them into valuable food, feed, and nutraceutical ingredients.
Its platform is based on artificial intelligence, proprietary LED-lights and patented CO2 management. The use of concentrated CO2 from industrial waste streams, it claims, enables it to boost productivity of microalgae well beyond the capacity of outdoor algae growers and allows industrial emitters to abate and ultimately recycle CO2. Its system bolts onto existing industrial facilities.
Pond grows algae in large vessels, which are engineered to automatically regulate the inflow of CO2 or nutrients while reducing the need for manual supervision. "Our deep expertise in lighting coupled with a series of sensors allow us to optimize growth conditions. After only a few days, the algae are ready for harvest and can then be processed into marketable products, just like any other crop,” Peter Howard, VP, project development, Pond, told this site previously.
Algae for feed pilot
Pond signed a licensing agreement for its technology with AB Agri’s Livalta last year in relation to setting up a viable operation for algae-based animal feed ingredient production from CO2 emissions in the UK. Livalta and various partners are in the process of installing an algae demonstration system at British Sugar’s Wissington site in Norfolk. A pilot operation will be followed by a commercial-sized plant at the same site producing 20,000 tons of spirulina from CO2 emissions.
The "landmark" commercial partnership gives Pond access to the multi-billion-dollar animal feed market, said Smith last September.
In February, the Canadian firm launched Pond Carbon, a division that will be engaged in the sale and licensing of its proprietary CO2 abatement technology to project developers, engineering companies, funders and other companies in partnership with industrial emitters.
