Annual Report 2010 (4.1 MB) - Danish Technological Institute

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42
Case
21
The location by the Kattegatcentret in
Grenaa provides a unique opportunity
to communicate the research through
the educational service and exhibitions.
improving operations, this means better
control of the water environment in
the facility tanks and thus high-quality
measurements for research.
Promising research
in new Danish algae
centre
In autumn 2010, the Danish
Technological Institute started the
pumps for the first recirculated algae
growth facility, together with
the other three partners in the
consortium AlgaeCentre Denmark.
This marked the beginning of a
line of new research and development
projects on the use of algae
as a natural resource for energy,
food, feed, medicine and more.
AlgaeCentre Denmark is expected
to help develop new products that
will benefit Danish businesses.
The business sector and researchers
from Aarhus University and the
Danish Technological Institute are
to conduct the research in a manner
that allows the results to be used to
stimulate growth and development
in both Central Denmark Region and
nationwide.
– With AlgaeCentre Denmark, we’ll get
one step ahead, and I’m convinced
that it’ll become a success. The Centre
is ideally located, enjoys local support,
has the right partners and focuses on
the right projects, says David Tveit,
Director of Energy and Climate at the
Danish Technological Institute. He assesses
that the potential of the algae
research facility is substantial and
that the ambitions reach beyond the
regional area: Algae have made the international
agenda. We see this clearly
when we participate in conferences.
Deputy Director General Kurt Nielsen
from the Danish National Environmental
Research Institute stresses that the
centre has gained international notice:
– We want to become a Green Lab Jutland
and create value for society that
extends beyond our national borders.
We’re already part of the European
agenda since the first research and
development projects at AlgaeCentre
Denmark have received research
funding from the EU. The algae
growth facility at Grenaa harbour only
recirculates seawater. In addition to
– Algae are among the most promising
resources of the future, says Michael
Bo Rasmussen, Senior Adviser at the
National Environmental Research Institute,
adding: We’re thrilled to be at the
vanguard of developing growth technology
that simultaneously ensures
environment-friendly energy, healthy
food and environmental improvement.
Since the facility is recirculated, we
can control the water environment in
the tanks, which we expect to produce
high-quality research results.
Facts
The National Environmental Research
Institute at Aarhus University, the
development project Ocean Centre
Denmark and the Kattegatcentret join
the Danish Technological Institute as
partners in the consortium behind
AlgaeCentre Denmark. The growth
facilities are used for the projects
energy from marine biomass, BioWalk-
4BioFuel, Algae for Biogas and as the
technological basis for applying the
strategic research funds.