ALGATEC distinguished as a reference project in the book 'Engineering XXI' of the Order of Engineers
Source: a4f
A project designed and built by A4F was selected as a reference work for Chemical and Biological Engineering
The ALGATEC Eco Business Park, a project designed and built by A4F, was selected as a reference work for Chemical and Biological Engineering in the book 'Engineering XXI', edited by the Order of Engineers of Portugal, and which was released in a public session on March 15th, at the Order's national headquarters, in Lisbon.
The book describes the most relevant interventions and main success stories related to engineering, in all areas of expertise, in the last 20 years in Portugal, 'Engineering XXI' records the memory of the Order's 85 years.
ALGATEC, promoted by A4F together with Green Aqua Póvoa and HyChem (formerly Solvay Portugal), is an Eco Business Park which welcomes companies and entrepreneurial projects in the algae sector, and supports the knowledge transfer process between applied research and industrial production, as well as the development and commercialization of new products.
This project, built between 2017 and 2020, under the supervision of LNEG, involved an investment of 22 M€ and constitutes the largest microalgae production platform in Europe.
The ALGATEC project consisted of reconverting a 14 ha land of brine ponds for the production of microalgae, without changing the morphology and with two production lines: open systems – 14 cascade raceways; and closed systems – 22 tubular photobioreactors and 50 flat-panels and related activities. In addition, but essential, a 2 MW solar plant will soon be installed, a self-sustainable energy community project.
ALGATEC has the capacity to produce 270 tons of microalgae and omega-3 extracts, vegetable protein and antioxidants, for applications in the food sector and in aquaculture. It is estimated that it will create 100 new jobs (60 already created) and will generate a turnover of 10 M€/year, with the possibility of consuming more than 2 thousand tons of CO2 from the HyChem industrial complex, in a perfect model of circular economy.