Conclusion and outlook

The industrial production of microalgal biomass is subject to specific constraints, leading to specific cultivation systems. Unlike conventional bioreactors used for yeast or bacteria, where fermenter technology has become the norm, the cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms is carried out in a diverse range of technologies, with no single system being favored. This is largely due to the need for optimized light supply, which is a major design constraint, and leads to several possible operating solutions (solar, artificial source).

The choice will be strongly influenced by operating constraints and objectives. The scale of production is the first key point, as microalgal cultivation requires, by principle, a large surface area to be lit. A production target of several tonnes to dozens of tonnes per year will thus lead to a preference for solar cultivation,...