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The Project for Integrated Sustainable Energy & Food Production from Microalgae-Based Carbon Capture & Utilization
Consolidated and developed technologies utilizing microalgae to capture carbon dioxide are established as sustainable resources in Indonesia, providing profitable scenarios towards carbon neutral society.
SATREPS
ABOUT
Background
Indonesia currently has a population of 270 million (4th largest in the world), and its working-age population will increase until 2055. Indonesia is also rich in fossil fuel resources such as oil and coal, and has relied on these resources to develop its economy. However, the economic growth rate, which used to be over 6%, has declined to around 5% in recent years, and growth dependent on fossil fuel resources is slowing down. For its sustainable development, Indonesia considers creating new and value-added industries by taking advantage of its population and shifting away from resource-dependent industries is included as a priority in the National Mid-term Development Plan (2020-2024) for the next five years.
The Indonesian government has set a goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2060 (Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has prepared a roadmap to 2060). According to the draft National Electricity Plan (2021-2030), Indonesia aims to achieve a renewable energy share of 48% by 2030, and is thus pressed to introduce renewable energy on a large scale. Currently, more than half of the current energy mix is coal-fired, and coal-fired power plants must be low-carbon and decarbonized.
On the other hand, in Indonesia, there is a serious problem of hunger and obesity due to malnutrition. This is so-called “double burden of malnutrition”, which refers to the phenomenon of simultaneous overweight and undernutrition in communities and households due to high-calorie, poor-nutrition diets that are cheap and easy to fill because of poverty. Therefore, there is also a need for new industries that contribute to health care by eliminating malnutrition.
Against such background, the government of Indonesia requested the Project under “Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development” (hereinafter referred to as “SATREPS”) scheme. The Project aims to develop technologies to capture CO2 emitted from coal-fired power plants through mass cultivation of microalgae, to produce Green Hydrogen from algal biomass, to create new fermentation products from microalgae that will improve nutrition, and to propose economically viable policies to optimize and implement these technologies.
Working Packages (WPs)
WP #1: Algal Bioreactor
WP #2: Green Fermentation
WP #3: Greem Hydrogen
WP #4: Co-combustion technology
WP #1: Algal Bioreactor
Incorporating photobioreactors into coal-fired power plants, we conduct outdoor cultivation trials of microalgae. We also carry out cultivation trials with exhaust gas emissions from coal-fired power plants to determine CO2 fixation efficiency and optimal cultivation conditions, such as mixing ratios. Based on these conditions, we perform a practical evaluation of microalgae cultivation in coal-fired power plants. We introduce genome-editing technology equipment for Euglena and, through the hiring of researchers and the use of exchange programs with RIKEN, we conduct technical training in microalgae genome breeding, metabolism evaluation, productivity assessment, and utilization technology, facilitating technology transfer and education. We develop genome-edited Euglena strains, making Euglena genome breeding possible. Using the genome-edited Euglena, we carry out cultivation trials to investigate biomass and metabolite productivity. Our scenario development team collaborates with energy-related companies to examine the economic rationale and formulate scenarios and policy proposals for decarbonizing coal-fired power generation in Indonesia.
WP #2: Green Fermentation
We optimize the fermentation remodeling process by adding microalgae powder to fermented foods. While elucidating the dynamics of nutrients in the fermentation process through metabolome analysis, we optimize the nutritional content of green tempeh. We select suitable waste biomass for fermentative composting mixed with microalgae powder from agricultural waste materials within Indonesia. We create a fermented compost by mixing microalgae powder with palm oil waste and other materials, and then verify its composting acceleration effects. Furthermore, we evaluate the impact of microalgae powder on microbial fluctuations during the composting process through metagenomic analysis. Based on the results of verifying economic rationale, poverty alleviation effects, and health promotion effects, we compile proposals for health and agricultural policies.
WP #3: Greem Hydrogen
We work on optimizing the technology to convert various biomasses, including algal residues, into hydrogen simultaneously separating CO2 through chemical looping techniques. Based on laboratory chemical looping systems, we enable optimization calculations for the overall system of green hydrogen production using biomass. Additionally, we develop elemental technologies for oxygen carriers, hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization. By inviting Indonesian students and researchers to participate in these studies through researcher recruitment and exchange programs, we carry out technology transfer and education. We optimize reactions and fluidization in each chemical looping reactor, develop a small-scale hot model system, and create a cold model for optimizing the overall reaction. Moreover, we formulate a future hydrogen introduction roadmap for Indonesia and share scenarios.
WP #4: Co-combustion technology
Based on the co-firing test results, we model and optimize the optimal co-firing conditions (co-firing rate, NOx generation, etc.) using fluid dynamics and machine learning. Furthermore, we develop a combustion prediction model integrating combustion phenomenon models for co-firing to construct a co-firing digital twin using supercomputers. We perform co-firing demonstration tests by mixing algae and its processing residues, as well as other biomass mixtures, with coal. We also conduct co-firing tests with hydrogen-based fuels (hydrogen and ammonia) and coal. Additionally, we propose scenarios for introducing co-firing technology based on renewables in Indonesia, which heavily relies on coal. While fostering human resources, we collaborate with related research institutions to examine the spillover effects of scenarios in other Southeast Asian countries.
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