Mexican startup invented energy microalgae panels as an alternative to windows

The goal of Mexican firm Greenfluidic’s energy-producing microalgae bioreactor panels is to produce biomass for use as fuel or fertiliser while sucking up carbon dioxide.  

It’s not a brand new concept to use flat algae tanks outside of buildings to promote sustainability. These panels, which are made of biomass and are coloured green, have many uses. They bubble a stream of CO2 that has been gathered from an emissions source through water containing particular strains of algae.

The algae absorb the CO2 as well as sunlight and photosynthesis, increasing their bulk and producing new oxygen. They will grow more quickly the more sunshine is available, absorbing around two pounds of carbon dioxide for every pound of algae.

These panels also trap heat in their water, which lowers summer air conditioning energy consumption. Both the biomass itself and that heat can be recovered. The BIQ is able to sustainably meet around a third of its water-heating energy needs thanks to the biomass fuel and heat that is absorbed from the water in the panels. 

Miguel Mayorga, the CEO of Greenfluidics, explained how the company’s method makes use of nanofluids. In essence, water is given a boost in heat conductivity by the addition of reusable carbon nanoparticles. While the algae are grown on the opposite side of the panels, this is run through one side to enhance heat collection.

The algae panels are more comparable to conventional solar panels because the heat is converted directly into power through a thermo-electric generator and delivered into the building.