Scaling SMART Solar Bio-Manufacturing Processes

Integrated continuous processes for microalgae production are essential to accelerate the scaling of solar bioproduction while maximizing the economic and environmental benefits. The Munich Institute of Integrated Materials, Energy and Process Engineering (MEP) together with the University of Queensland (UQ) jointly leverage their interdisciplinary expertise to establish the foundations for integrating digital twins by conceptualizing an integrated continuous bioprocess for microalgae bioproducts. This will reduce the number of physical measurements in favor of an automated microalgae process control design, which will fast-track the automation of microalgae systems, streamline their operation and support economic production-scale operation. The approach utilizes continuous processing technologies, kinetic modelling, and advanced data analysis to develop SMART optimization tools for microalgae bioprocesses.

The project aims to create a digital, automated process for growing microalgae. The process would utilize digital systems that learn, adapt, and enable continuous operation with fewer physical measurements. The goal is to make sustainable bioproducts from microalgae cheaper to produce and easier to scale globally.