A new pioneering Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology using green algae (G-algae) based materials in photo tanks is being developed in Indonesia through the collaboration of Greenlabs Indonesia and Jubelo.
Greenlabs is a startup that exists to create a sustainable economy by being at the forefront of bio-based chemicals producers. Greenlabs innovations involve the utilization of biomass to produce bio-based specialty chemicals and polymers, replacing conventional and non-renewable chemicals. Greenlabs also helps industries and academia through its professional consulting, lab services to transform into biochemicals.
Jubelo is a technology company whose main focus is waste management. This company seeks to form a waste management ecosystem that aims to achieve Zero Waste in people’s daily lives.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) CCS technology is one of the technologies for mitigating global warming by reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Currently, CCS technology has been known for a long time by industry circles.
The process includes separating and capturing CO2 from flue gas emission sources, transporting the captured CO2 to a storage location (transportation), and storing it in a safe place (storage).
In developing this technology, Greenlabs is collaborating with Jubelo in developing algae. This collaboration takes the form of Greenlabs providing the algae, while Jubelo provides the phototank and sensor units.
Apart from that, the creation of this CO2 absorbing photo tank is supported by the 2024 Matching Fund (Kedaireka) DIKTI Ministry of Education and Research and Technology Program.
On March 22, 2024 in Bandung, the second installation of G-algae was successfully carried out by Greenlabs and Jubelo. It can be seen that G-algae is up-and-running optimally by absorbing CO2 instantly. Meanwhile, previously the first installation of G-algae was carried out at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
“We have been collaborating with PT Workshop Innovation (Jubelo) in the last few months,” Eunike Kartika Salduna, Chief of Business Development of Greenlabs told Indonesia Business Post (IBP), on Friday, March 22, 2024.
CCS technology uses green microalgae with the nannochloropsis species which has a Carbon Concentrating Mechanism (CCM) which can absorb CO2 pollutants and release O2 oxygen.
Through 200L of microalgae, it can absorb 10-20kg CO2 per year or the equivalent of the ability of 1-2 higher plants.
As well as a sensor system to monitor the surrounding air quality. It is hoped that this phototank can improve air quality in urban areas.
“A minimum of 100Lx2 to absorb CO2 upto 20kg annually, and increasing the air quality around it,” she said.
Potentials and risk
This algae product has the potential not only to be aesthetic and absorb CO2 but can also be harvested into biomass such as fertilizer, biosilica and oil.
“From the algae, in about a month we can produce other products in the form of biomass, and can be used (again),” she said.
Apart from that, this technology can be installed in various places and public facilities such as sidewalks. Then, this technology can lead to sustainable green buildings or infrastructure.
“Currently, many institutions want sustainable green buildings, and this algae could be an alternative,” she said.
“The hope is that this algae technology can be used in IKN,” she added.
Meanwhile, this technology has challenges such as algae still relying on electricity to create bubbling. However, in the future it will use solar panels.
