The Mexican start-up Greenfluidics has unveiled its innovative bio-panels. Composed of microalgae bioreactors and nanofluids, they absorb carbon dioxide and generate energy.
An innovative approach
Limit the global warming requires the gradual abandonment of fossil fuels in favor of more environmentally friendly sources and the development of infrastructures that capture greenhouse gases. In this perspective, the algae constitute candidates of choice: having recently made it possible to supply a small computer for 6 months, these can effectively sequester the CO2produce biofuel and also reduce methane emissions from livestock.
The bio-facades typically capture carbon dioxide from an emitting source and then inject it into water containing microalgae, which will gain mass and generate oxygen by absorbing the CO2. Phenomena amplified by solar radiation, which heats the water and accelerates the development of these photosynthetic organisms.
The heat is then stored and the algae extracted, processed and converted into biofuel to supply the hot water circuit of the structure on which the panels are placed.
The approach of Greenfluidics involved diffusion of nanofluids (composed of carbon nanoparticles) absorbing solar radiation in waterwhich increases the thermal conductivity of the latter, which circulates in a closed circuit on one side of the panel while the algae grow on the other. The heat thus produced is directly converted into electricity using a thermoelectric generator and used to power the building.
Up to 328 kWh/m² per year
Greenfluidics asserts that each of its panels can generate up to 328 KWh/m² of energy per year and save up to 90 KWh/m², retaining heat during the cold season and shading the structure on which they are installed in summer. The biomass they contain can be recovered from time to time and transformed into fuel or fertilizer.
According to the company, it took more than two years to design and develop these innovative devices, which were first tested last October. Currently conducting a series of experiments in different regions of the globe, it plans to market its first panels by the end of the year.
If this technology is particularly promising on paper, its installation, operating and maintenance costs have not yet been mentioned.
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