ENEA, the Italian research agency, and Enel Green Power (EGP) have unveiled what they term is the 1st algovoltaic system in Italy. The system, which just goes on to show how versatile solar PV technology is, will be used to produce microalgae for use in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
ENEA explains that microalgae grow in an aqueous solution flowing inside photobioreactors – transparent tubes that are placed beneath the PV modules to shield it from direct sun. The tubes are placed in 2 parallel vertical arrays and connected to each other to create a continuous coil for the fluid to circulate.
Microalgae grow within the solution due to photosynthesis triggered by the solar energy and consequent absorption of CO2, till they are ready enough to be collected through a powerful centrifuge that separates from the water.
Developed as part of an agreement between the 2 partners, the algovoltaic plant can produce close to 30 kgs of dried algae/year against a module surface of 40 m2 and a power of 7 kWp(kilowatt peak).
"The Portici algovoltaic system allows the cultivation of microalgae with high commercial value – from €100/kg to €600/kg for pharmaceutical or cosmetic use – thanks to a fully automated cultivation system integrated with the photovoltaic system," according to ENEA.
A researcher at the ENEA Smart Grid and Energy Networks laboratory at the Portici Research Centre, Carmine Cancro lists the benefits of this approach to produce microalgae, "First of all, algae allow us to exploit the energy coming from the sun better than traditional crops since they have greater photosynthetic efficiency; furthermore, they have a high environmental value as they consume carbon dioxide, transforming it into biomass through photosynthesis and releasing pure oxygen into the atmosphere."
Additionally, it can be used to retrofit interventions of existing PV systems, he added.
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