TotalEnergies, Veolia to research microalgae cultivation for producing biofuels

Partners will join forces to develop CO2-based microalgae cultivation in a four-year research project with the long-term goal of producing biofuels.

TotalEnergies and Veolia have joined forces to accelerate the development of microalgae cultivation using CO2. The two partners will pool their know-how to develop a four-year research project at the La Mède biorefinery, operated by TotalEnergies, with the long-term goal of producing biofuel, according to a joint press release.

Through photosynthesis, microalgae use sunlight and CO2 from the atmosphere or from industrial processes to grow. When mature, they can be transformed into next-generation biofuels with low carbon intensity.

As part of the project, a test platform will be set up to compare different systems for growing microalgae and identify the most efficient ones.

Veolia will bring its expertise in the water sector to optimize management of the microalgae's aquatic environment, as well as in the development of algal biomass as an effective solution for CO2 capture.

TotalEnergies will add its expertise in the cultivation and refining of biomass to produce advanced biofuels, and in CO2 capture and utilization technologies.