TotalEnergies and Veolia to partner on microalgae-based biofuels project

French companies TotalEnergies and Veolia have joined forces to accelerate the development of microalgae cultivation using CO₂ to produce biofuel.

The two companies will pool their experience and know-how together within a four-year research project at the La Mède biorefinery, operated by TotalEnergies.  As part of the project, a test platform will be set up to compare different innovative systems for growing microalgae and identify the most efficient ones.

Through photosynthesis, microalgae use sunlight and CO₂ from the atmosphere or from industrial processes to grow. When mature, they can be transformed into next-generation biofuels with low carbon intensity.

Veolia will bring its expertise in the water sector to optimise management of the microalgae’s aquatic environment, as well as the development of algal biomass as an effective solution for CO₂ capture.

TotalEnergies, in synergy with the business lines at the La Mède site, will bring its expertise in the cultivation and refining of biomass to produce advanced biofuels, as well as CO₂ capture and utilisation technologies.

“We are pleased to join forces with Veolia at our La Mède site to accelerate the assessment of microalgae cultivation systems using CO₂, with the aim of producing next-generation biofuels. Biofuels will enable TotalEnergies’ clients to reduce their carbon footprint, and thus contribute to the ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 together with the society,” announced Marie-Noëlle Semeria, Chief Technology Officer at TotalEnergies.

Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

The company deploys its Research and Innovation in the fields of solar and wind energy, storage solutions and hybrid energy systems, distributed energy networks, biofuels, biogas, hydrogen, low-carbon products for alternative mobility, and carbon capture, storage and utilisation technologies.

Philippe Seberac, the Technical and Scientific Director at Veolia, commented: “This unique partnership enables TotalEnergies and Veolia to accelerate the production cycle of a promising alternative energy that is necessary to protect the planet."

"With this project, Veolia can contribute its technical expertise in optimising and securing biological treatments to a more global context that will have a positive impact on the ecological transformation."

He further affirmed that the partnership is an excellent example of the ecological innovation capacities that Veolia wants to offer its customers in response to climate change.

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