Shareholding of Fraunhofer

Fraunhofer Venture

Subitec GmbH

The Company

Subitec GmbH 
Subitec GmbH was founded in 2000 as a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial and Biotechnology (IGB). In the run-up to the founding, scientists at IGB had already been dealing with the subject of microalgae since 1995. In the year 2007, operative business commenced and first investors were solicited.

With the globally patented Flat Panel Airlift Photobioreactor, algae biomass may be cultivated on an industrial scale by utilizing solar energy. By means of the FPA reactors, numerous valuable substances such as fatty acids, proteins, vitamins, carotinoids, and colorants may be produced from microalgae; these substances are then used as starting substances in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industry. In addition to the extraction of high-priced resources, an energetic utilization of the algae biomass is also facilitated. For this purpose, Subitec developed integrated cycle processes: the CO² required for the algae cultivation originates from industrial processes. The closed system enables a circulation of water and nutrients; the biomass refinery concept enables total recycling of the algae biomass.

With resources for the cosmetics and food supplement industry, Subitec at present addresses dynamic growth markets. Through cooperation with renowned energy trading companies, the worldwide growing energy market is accessible already today.
The business activity is focused on marketing the technology platform and acquiring commissioned productions.

The Technology

biomass refinery 

Photobioreactor


Photobioreactor

The Subitec GmbH Technology for the Production of Microalgae 

High Profitability 
The technology of Subitec GmbH allows for the production of algae biomass with a net energy surplus. This opens up new technical and economic possibilities.

The particular strengths of the technology for gaining biomass from microalgae are a good scalability of the technology with low investment and operating costs, an efficient production due to high cell concentrations, and a tried and tested reliability that is further improved in existing plants.

und Efficient Technical Processes
The technology of Subitec avoids the disadvantages of other processes from the outset, which in turn leads to a wide range of systematic technological advantages in the fields of
light supply for the algae,
stirring and homogenization of the "algae soup",
reduction of shearing stress on the algae,
temperature monitoring, pH control, and gas exchange.

Result in many Advantages
5 to 10 times higher area productivity
"designable" biomass
use of CO² from industrial production
lignocellulose-free biomass
no competition with food production
net energy production is possible