New Innovative Project from CTS

Algae as a new business opportunity in Kymenlaakso region

CTS Engtec and Cursor had an international publication of the introduction to the study "Algae farming as raw material to the biogas plants." in Pulpaper2010- exhibition in Helsinki on the 2nd of June.

Applying algae farming on industrial scale, CTS provides the opportunity to take advantage of the company's broad expertise in industrial processes and energy, in particular:

- Algae farming industry utilizes different waste flows and carbon dioxide is also captured in the process among other emissions. Algae farming brings along new facilities in addition to the existing plant and processes as well as increases productivity, says Antti Lukka, CEO of CTS Engtec.

-Algae can be used in plants of different scale. One of the advantages is that new technology-based high-risk investments in the innovation are not needed at all,  Lukka continues.

-Absolute advantage of algae exploitation is little need for new resources.

-Algae farming does not compete with food production and it does not require fertile land, lists Antti Lukka algae farming and production advantages.

Algae' farming begins in Anjala, Kouvola region

Algae farming is closely connected with the biogas plant located in Anjala, Kouvola. Algae growing process is integrated with the anaerobic digestion process. Farming of algae is examined to prove whether its growth in the local conditions satisfies bigger scale biogas plant needs and also to determine possible problems in the up scaling of the algae farming process, which is also big challenge. The project aims to use only those nutrients, which are available through wastes and side streams from industry thus not competing with food crops on fertilizer.

The best of the best-green algae conditions

Alga research institute expands on the best way of growing micro-algae and the plant model which would take into account the local conditions and costs. By experimenting we have selected the best algae strains for the conditions in Finland. These conditions are for example the availability of heat and light. Experimental tests also explain what types of algae will grow most efficiently within each by-product or by-product mixture.
Algae study results provide information on how much algae can be produced for a biogas plant from the reject water, in the local climate and nutrients conditions.

Biogas plants digestate can be separated into solids and liquids. The solids can be used as fertilizer in agriculture and the liquid portion which also contains nutrients will be used to grow algae.

Currently we are studying how much methane we can get from algae, so we can find out how beneficial algae is for biogas plants as a raw material.

If the results are close to those achieved in Europe, the project will introduce a completely new business sector to Finland. In this new sector local engineering companies and manufacturers can make use of their excellent process knowledge they've learned while working with the Finnish paper industry. The process knowledge is one of the key parts in algae farming.

In the long run an algae farm could be built next to paper mill utilizing their waste water which contains nutrients for the algae to take. When algae take the nutrients it also cleans the water at the same time without expensive waste water cleaning processes. Paper mills also produce a lot of waste heat so algae farming would be possible almost throughout the year.

Potential can be found in various types of production

Algae farm can have many different end products. Biogas plant can use the algae as raw material resulting in significantly improvement methane production. Water separated from the digestate can be purified with the algae and so it does not need to be processed by waste water facility.

Algae can be utilized in many ways: the protein from algae can be used as human food or feed for animals. Algae is extremely good material for feed or food because it contains very high levels of vitamins and good oils. For example some algae species can be dried and sold directly as vitamin pills. For example omega-3 and other very beneficial nutrients can be extracted from algae. The high oil content of algae is also beneficial for cattle because this lowers their methane emissions.  In biogas plants algae will increase methane production. Algae energy efficiency is ten times better than other plant species due to high efficiency of its photosynthesis. This means for example that one can get ten times more food from the same field compared to other food crops for example.

Underlying explanations of project participants

In 2009, Cursor ltd highlighted features of companies in the region in respect of the common trends of bio-energy business development. The aim was to find a business model that  profits  the companies of Kymenlaakso region.most.

The best option was found and further proceeded with. During the summer 2009 Kymenlaakso waste flows and nutrient algae farming were studied.
Algae farming project is part of Cursor Oy activity.

Companies involved in the project are Cursor, Kouvola Innovation, CTS Engtec, Kymen Bioenergia, Hamina Energia, Kouvolan Vesi  and Harju Learning Center.

More information:

Project Manager Jari Järvinen, Cursor Oy/ProAgria Kymenlaakso ry

mob. + 358 40 400 423 742, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Managing Director Antti Lukka, CTS Engtec Oy

mob. + 358 40 535 0626 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Manager, Process department Jukka Kannel, CTS Engtec Oy

mob. + 358 40 595 0345 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it