- Both companies will cultivate microalgae for biofuels production.
- Veoila will provide expertise on water management and an optimal aquatic environment.
- TotalEnergies will provide expertise in the refining of biomass for advanced biofuels production.
TotalEnergies SE and waste and energy management group Veolia have partnered to develop carbon dioxide (CO2) based microalgae cultivation that can be utilised in biofuel production. Microalgae are grown with sunlight and CO2 from the atmosphere or and then used to produce biofuels. Both companies say that they will work together on a four-year research project at TotalEnergies’ La Mede biorefinery comparing different systems for growing microalgae.
Veolia will bring the required expertise in water management for the development of optimal microalgae aquatic environment and in the development of algal biomass for CO2 capture. At the same time, TotalEnergies will provide expertise in the cultivation and refining of biomass for advanced biofuels production and CO2 capture and utilisation technologies.
TotalEnergies chief technology officer Marie-Noelle Semeria stated that “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.”
On teh other hand, Philippe Seberac, technical and scientific director at Veolia, added that “the partnership is an excellent example of the ecological innovation capacities that Veolia wants to offer its customers in response to climate change.”