Philips Lighting Provides LED Lighting for New Sustainable Algae Production Facility at AlgaeCytes
Philips Lighting Provides LED Lighting for New Sustainable Algae Production Facility at AlgaeCytes
October 19, 2017
- Philips LED lighting provides an efficient lighting source to produce algae-derived Omega-3 oil
- LED system enables algae to be grown in a controlled environment with mild temperatures
- Promotes higher yields, reduced energy usage and more control over production
Eindhoven, The Netherlands – Philips Lighting (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, today announced that AlgaeCytes, based in Kent, UK, installed Philips GreenPower LED interlighting in its new algae farm, which uses a patented technology to meet the growing demand for Omega-3 supplements and oils without depleting the world’s fish stocks. AlgaeCytes chose Philips LED lighting because it is ideally suited for creating a mild, controlled, and energy-efficient production environment for algae, where it can ramp up production to meet demand. The company chose Philips Lighting as its partner because of its lighting expertise for horticulture, research into algae with Wageningen University and its focus on building long-term relationships with its business partners.
Producing fish oil without the fish
Bio-based products are one of the many growth markets in the horticulture sector, and Omega oils from non-marine sources are attracting a lot of attention. Dependence on traditional marine-animal sources of Omega-3 oil puts pressure on global fish stocks, which is unsustainable. “AlgaeCytes has developed a process that captures the properties of algae-high-value-ingredients for the health and personal care markets. The company has built its first production module using a photobioreactor system and freshwater algal strains to produce algae-derived EPA, an Omega-3 oil which has known health benefits. High-quality protein and carbohydrates are also produced as a by-product of the process,” said Naz Bashir, CEO AlgaeCytes. “The opening of this new facility on October 26, 2017, marks an exciting stage for AlgaeCytes that we believe will unlock the potential of algae for nutritional and health care markets.”
Supporting the bio-based market
“We are excited to be participating in this novel production facility for bio-based ingredients,” said Udo van Slooten, Business Leader Horticulture at Philips Lighting. “It is just one more example of how growers and researchers are opening new opportunities with LED lighting. I think this is just the start and we can expect LED lighting to be a driving force for many other innovations in bio-based markets.”
LED lighting is ideal for algae production
Producing algae at commercial scale requires an enormous amount of light, which makes it challenging to prevent warm temperatures. Until now, growers have used sunlight or high pressure sodium (HPS) grow lights to cultivate algae. However, sunlight is seasonal and HPS grow lights generate too much heat. Using LED lights enables AlgaeCytes to maintain optimal conditions for the growth of algae. It is also very energy efficient compared to HPS. At the AlgaeCytes facility, Philips Lighting’s Horti LED partner, Cambridge HOK, installed a unique LED system. Multiple lines of Philips GreenPower LED interlighting are placed on the sides of large glass tubes filled with nutrient-rich fresh water and algal strains. The LED interlighting produces high levels of light without increasing the temperature around the tubes.
For further information, please contact:
Philips Lighting
Daniela Damoiseaux, Global Marcom Manager Horticulture
E-mail: daniela.damoiseaux@philips.com
www.philips.com/horti
AlgaeCytes Limited
Naz Bashir, CEO
Email: nazbashir@algaecytes.com
CambridgeHOK
Tim Haworth, General Manager
E-mail: thaworth@cambridgehok.co.uk
About Philips Lighting
Philips Lighting (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting products, systems and services, delivers innovations that unlock business value, providing rich user experiences that help improve lives. Serving professional and consumer markets, we lead the industry in leveraging the Internet of Things to transform homes, buildings and urban spaces. With 2016 sales of EUR 7.1 billion, we have approximately 34,000 employees in over 70 countries. News from Philips Lighting is located at the Newsroom, Twitter and LinkedIn. Information for investors can be found on theInvestor Relations page.
About AlgaeCytes
AlgaeCytes is a business that is focused on delivering ingredients and products from algae for the personal care, nutrition therapeutics and health markets. At AlgaeCytes our ambition and constant objective is to develop products according to the principles of the green economy, naturally and with minimal waste. We are always aiming to have a positive impact on health and nutrition. At AlgaeCytes we aim to add value by offering ingredients such as vegetarian Omega 3 oils EPA and other algae-based ingredients. AlgaeCytes can also make high-quality protein and carbohydrates from algal biomass from traceable sources. AlgaeCytes' patented technology offers a number of benefits in terms of sustainability. It allows for continuous indoor algae farming production in regular commercial locations, near skilled employees, transportation and markets.
About CambridgeHOK
CambridgeHOK is the UK’s leading Glasshouse, Heating and LED lighting specialist with its own inhouse expert design engineers. It specialises in bespoke turnkey design and installation adapting every solution to the client’s needs using the very latest in technology. More information can be found on its website: http://cambridgehok.co.uk/.