Welcome to our Q&A series, where our exceptional team addresses key questions about the NIAGARA project: its innovations in advanced biofuels, scientific and technological breakthroughs, and its transformative impact on the European Union’s energy landscape.
Today, we speak with Florian Delrue, NIAGARA’s Project Coordinator from the Commissariat à l’Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA).
What makes NIAGARA’s approach to biofuel production unique compared to other projects or technologies?
“Research on advanced biofuels in the microalgae sector has largely focused on producing lipid-based liquid biofuels, primarily through lipid extraction or hydrothermal liquefaction processes. The NIAGARA project takes a novel approach by leveraging the carbohydrate fraction of microalgae biomass as a resource for gaseous biofuels. Carbohydrates, which can accumulate in microalgae at even higher rates than lipids, offer significant potential to reduce the production costs of microalgae-based biofuels.
The syngas produced through the NIAGARA process is highly versatile. It can be utilized to generate electricity and heat using Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, as outlined in the project, or converted into a wide range of liquid biofuels, including methanol, ammonia, and Fischer-Tropsch fuels. This innovative strategy not only diversifies the application of microalgae biomass but also enhances the economic and environmental sustainability of biofuel production.
The NIAGARA project also plans to incorporate organic waste alongside microalgae biomass, aiming to achieve a dual benefit: minimizing the environmental impact of these wastes while simultaneously lowering the production costs of the NIAGARA process.”
How do you think NIAGARA’s innovative approach will influence future research in advanced biofuels?
“The NIAGARA project’s results could pave the way for entirely new applications in advanced biofuels by enabling the valorisation of microalgae-derived carbohydrates. Additionally, combining low-energy, abundant biomass such as organic waste with high-energy, cost-intensive biomass like microalgae offers promising avenues for future research in advanced biofuels. Furthermore, integrating Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technologies into biorefineries creates exciting opportunities for enhancing the efficiency and versatility of advanced biofuel production.”
What unique expertise does CEA bring to the NIAGARA consortium, and how does this enhance the project’s impact?
“The MicroAlgae Processes Platform (MAP) at CEA Cadarache has developed extensive expertise in the accumulation of carbohydrates—particularly starch—in microalgae, through involvement in various projects, including Process’Alg (AVENE-PME), ALGUEX (ADEME F0938P0104), SEALIVE (H2020 BG-06-2019), and NENU2PHAR (H2020 BBI-2019-R08). This expertise, combined with the University of Almeria’s knowledge of microalgae-based wastewater treatment, will enable the production of carbohydrate-rich microalgae biomass while simultaneously treating the diverse effluents recycled from the NIAGARA processes.
The “Laboratoire d’Innovation pour les Technologies des Énergies Nouvelles et les Nanomatériaux” (LITEN) at CEA Grenoble possesses extensive expertise in the thermochemical conversion of biomass, with a particular focus on hydrothermal processes. These methods are especially well-suited for valorising wet biomass, such as microalgae and organic waste.”
How do you envision NIAGARA contributing to the EU’s transition to a more sustainable energy system?
“The NIAGARA project has the potential to make significant contributions to the future of our energy system in two key areas. Firstly, it supports the EU’s goal of achieving a 5.5% share of advanced biofuels in transport by 2030. Secondly, it enables the energy recovery of organic waste that currently has little or no valorization through existing processes.
In addition, the NIAGARA project will drive innovation in critical areas for the energy systems of tomorrow. These include advancements in microalgae-based technologies, thermochemical conversion processes, fuel cell systems, and CO₂ capture techniques. The project will also push the boundaries of process optimization by integrating modelling, automation, and artificial intelligence, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient energy future.”
Stay tuned as we continue exploring the groundbreaking work of the NIAGARA project in upcoming articles.
