First Algae-Powered Building in Germany Nearing Completion For Next Year’s Hamburg Exhibition
December 14, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis From exploring algae for cleaning oil spills, creating new biofuels, agriculture, and potential sunscreens, now a collaboration of scientists, architects, engineers, and investors in Germany is nearing the completion (expected in March 2013) of an algae-powered building as part of the International Building Exhibition’s Hamburg green community development project.
Algae-powered building rendering. Image courtesy of KOS Wulff Immobilien GmbH, project investor.
ARUP – an independent design, planning, and engineering firm working on the building – said that this project “is set to provide the first real-life test for a new façade system that uses live microalgae to provide shade and generate renewable energy at the same time.
“The bioreactors not only produce biomass that can subsequently be harvested, but they also capture solar thermal heat – both energy sources can be used to power the building.”
Strategic Science Consult (SSC), which is also one of the designers as well as co-sponsor of the project, further explained that the algae is produced using the power of the sun, carbon dioxide (CO2),and liquid nutrients, which culminate in energy sources including methane gas that can be used to both power and directly heat the building.
SSC added that, “This smart energy concept leads natural forces to work together in a loop. The façade of living algae biomass produces heat, which combines with geothermal and solar thermal energy to create an environmentally-friendly powerhouse.
“All the energy needed to generate electricity and heat are produced from renewable sources. Fossil fuels are not involved.”