Page 27 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2018 publication

Summer 2018 European Energy Innovation 27

MICROALGAE RESEARCH

Our big achievement is that all European
researchers in microalgae have come together.
We are establishing new collaborations between
research and industry that will eventually
lead to spin-offs.

manager and a researcher at Algal proteins are particularly PRODUCTIVE PARTNERSHIPS
the Universidad de Valladolid in interesting, and can be used in infant These partnerships between
Spain. “Our big achievement is formula. “There is a protein deficiency researchers and industry are at the
that all European researchers in in Europe,” says Hayes. “Companies heart of EUALGAE, adds Dr John
microalgae have come together. We could produce high-amino-acid Dodd, a bio-business consultant
are establishing new collaborations flours that are very bio-available and and co-founder of the company
between research and industry that lucrative.” AlgaeCytes Ltd, and who worked with
will eventually lead to spin-offs.” the network.
Short-term research placements
One early advance has improved between members – over 30 so “Researchers need SME partnerships
technology to purify biogas, he adds. far – are opening up opportunities to finance work, while commercial
to develop new products. For organisations have invaluable
“Here, microalgae remove carbon example, EUALGAE provided funds access to scientists’ know-how and
dioxide and hydrogen sulphide from for a Spanish researcher to go to analytical equipment,” he says.
biogas, producing pure methane to Ireland to help scale up a process for
be injected into natural gas grids,” he extracting proteins that could benefit He adds that the network’s research
says. “Other breakthroughs will come heart health or help prevent type 2 placements and training are having a
later.” diabetes. big impact on the industry: “EUALGAE
gives a focus for work while the training
CIRCULAR ECONOMY INGREDIENTS In addition, the network is helping the increases the number of experienced
Dr Maria Hayes of Teagasc, Ireland’s European Commission and national specialists in this field, creating a
Agriculture and Food Development legislatures better understand the stronger resource for Europe.” l
Authority, is leading cooperation on potential of algae-based industries.
algae refining and applications within “We are preparing a white paper on
the network. “EUALGAE supports a microalgae, due by the end of 2018,”
move to more circular and bio-based she says. “It describes what strains
economies,” she says. are in Europe, current products,
barriers to product development and
Microalgae compounds have uses costs and benefits.”
in many industries, ranging from
food and animal feed to Contact information
pharmaceuticals and cosmetics,
she explains. For example, members View the Action: http://www.cost.eu/COST_Actions/essem/ES1408
are investigating pigments such as View the Network website: http://eualgae.eu
astaxanthin, which can be used in
fish products, and algal oils, which
can replace less sustainable oils
in cosmetics.

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