Algae Powered Building: Turning Waste Systems Into Power Systems

Algae Powered Buildings Isn't As Crazy As It Sounds

Before you think I've jumped off the deep end, the idea of an algae powered building isn't as crazy as it sounds.

In Germany, Hamburg to be exact, has created the world's first algae powered building. This is kinda cool as I've been hearing about it for years, but is been sort of like the search for Jimmy Hoffa; false leads, reported sightings, unconfirmed reports… you get the picture.

Algae powered buildings have been theorized, but not built, up until now.

BIQ has created, according to their website,

"...a Natural, efficient and unique: the BIQ is setting new standards as the first building in the world to have a bioreactor façade. Microalgae are cultivated in the glass elements that make up its “bio skin”. These are used to produce energy, and can also control light and provide shade. Inside, an innovative living concept is aimed at ensuring maximum design versatility for everyday life, and gives us a glimpse into urban life in the future. With its innovative living concept, futuristic exterior, and “intelligent” algae façade…"

Essentially what they have done is on the sides of the building facing the sun, they built a shell of bio reactors around the outside of the building. The point being that the algae enable the building to supply its own energy.

Since it is a bioreactor, all liquid nutrients and carbon dioxide are run through the system. All the algae have to do is grow. Once the algae are mature, they are separated from the rest of the algae into a thick paste, and moved to a 'technical" room.

From there they are fermented in an external biogas plant, to be used as heat and electricity for the building itself.

I'm sure I don't need to say it, but this is radical outside-the-box thinking

The website goes on to say

"The BIQ has a holistic energy concept: it draws all of the energy needed to generate electricity and heat from renewable sources – fossil fuels remain untouched. It is able to generate energy using the algae biomass harvested from its own façade. Moreover, the façade collects energy by absorbing the light that is not used by the algae and generating heat, like in a solar thermal unit, which is then either used directly for hot water and heating, or can be cached in the ground using bore hole heat exchangers — 80 meter-deep holes filled with brine. This remarkably sustainable energy concept is therefore capable of creating a cycle of solar thermal energy, geothermal energy, a condensing boiler, local heat, and the capture of biomass using the bio-reactor façade."