Microscopic beings at the helm of a revolution
BROMALGAE
Text: Nahia Zubeldia / Video: Mito & Iker Treviño
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Microscopic beings at the helm of a revolution
Until a few decades ago, Barakaldo was the beating heart of heavy industries when the Biscayan blast furnaces were producing iron and steel. A real springboard for the Basque economy, this activity unfortunately caused very high levels of pollution. With the passage of time and the decline of the industry, Bilbao and the surrounding area have undergone considerable transformations, with the emergence of new environmental policies and sustainable development projects.
Altos Hornos de Vizcaya, founded in 1902 in Barakaldo.
So the green revolution currently taking place in the Basque Country does not stem solely from its forests and its agriculture. Tiny marine organisms, microalgae, are paving the way towards a more sustainable future. This is the challenge taken up by the innovative company Bromalgae: to use the power of microalgae to address major environmental issues such as reducing air pollution, absorbing carbon dioxide and promoting renewable energy.
Microalgae, the green gold of the sea
These small but powerful microalgae are sometimes compared to “superplants” because of their incredible ecological capacities. In addition to their exceptional capacity to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, microalgae multiply at an impressive rate, doubling or even tripling every day! All these characteristics make them interesting and productive allies for industry, food and energy production.
By using the natural process that oxygenates the planet, Bromalgae has developed technology made possible by microalgae to reduce pollution and purify the air. To enable us to breathe healthier air in our polluted cities, the company has created innovative algae trees. This system, called GarbiAir, uses microalgae to capture gases such as CO₂ and NOx (nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide). Initial experiments carried out in Barakaldo and Bayonne are more than promising, as they have revealed a 30% to 40% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and a 70% reduction in nitrogen oxides. So we may well see these new kinds of trees blossoming in our streets in the not-too-distant future.
But pollution issues go well beyond this scale. Large industries emit quantities of gases that are very harmful to the environment. Here again, microalgae have their say. Thanks to ingenious systems installed in factories, the GarbiNox system filters the air, absorbing toxic gases and expelling purer air. This technology not only preserves the environment, but also helps companies comply with the strictest regulations in this field.
Microalgae have many other strings to their bow. To be able to study them in the best possible way and to derive maximum benefit from them, Bromalgae has embarked on the production of microalgae on an industrial scale, as part of the Valga project. Microalgae could thus be applied to agriculture, waste management, health and even cosmetics.
Bromalgae proves that a city or region, even one with a history of pollution, can reinvent itself to become a major player in environmental protection. It also demonstrates that microalgae offer concrete and effective solutions to major ecological challenges.
However, many obstacles remain before these revolutionary technologies can become a reality on a large scale. In addition to scaling up production to an industrial level, it is essential to raise awareness and disseminate the benefits of microalgae, to raise citizens’ awareness and push companies towards sustainable alternatives. Public policies must act in the same direction, placing air quality and environmental protection at the heart of their priorities.
Microalgae, a promise for the future
Bromalgae proves that a greener and more sustainable future is achieved through the combination of innovative technologies and the power of nature. Microalgae are not a miracle solution but a real opportunity offered by science and engineering to reduce pollution and preserve the environment.
The work done by Bromalgae in the Basque Country shows the world that these microscopic marine organisms can have a huge impact on the health of our planet. Although the potential of microalgae is still largely untapped, they are just waiting in the wings. Technology, awareness and regulation are the three essential pillars that will enable their potential to flourish and develop.
