TotalEnergies, Veolia developing CO2-based microalgae cultivation

TotalEnergies SE and Veolia Environnement SA are working together to accelerate development of microalgae cultivation using CO₂ via a 4-year research project at TotalEnergies’ La Mède biorefinery on the French Riviera.

The partners will set up a test platform to compare different systems for growing microalgae and identify the most efficient ones for the purpose of producing biofuel.

TotalEnergies commissioned the 500,000-tonne/year plant at La Mède in mid-2019, producing biofuels from used oils and other renewable feedstocks. Conversion of the former 153,000-b/d crude oil refinery cost €275 million ($326 million).