Cal Poly Partners on Algae-Based Wastewater Plant

January 26, 2012
AlgaeIndustryMagazine.com

alifornia Polytechnic State University, of San Luis Obispo, CA has announced a partnership with the California Energy Commission to launch an algae-based wastewater treatment plant at the San Luis Obispo Water Reclamation Facility. At the facility Cal Poly faculty and students will demonstrate a new technology that uses algae to treat wastewater and produce biofuel as a byproduct.

The facility is a pilot development based on a system designed at Cal Poly called Reclamation of Nutrients, Energy and Water (RNEW) whereby algae feed on polluting nutrients in the wastewater. The effect is purified water and an increased volume of algae that can be converted to commodities such as liquid biofuel or fertilizer. The system is being examined for use at wastewater treatment facilities throughout California.

The treatment station is powered by electricity from the City of San Luis Obispo, but the plan is for a full-scale system to be powered by renewable energy, reducing electrical demand for wastewater treatment.

A grant from the California Energy Commission and matching funds from MicroBio Engineering Inc. are funding the research facility. The project is also supported by the City of San Luis Obispo, Phitec LLC, Livefuels Inc., and the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

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