Microalgae Bioreactor Pilot Unit

Microalgae bioreactor pilot unit tested at Berwick-upon-Tweed station in 2023 and 2024. The unit was created to test the feasibility of using microalgae bioreactors to capture carbon around stations, given the plant can be up to 400 times more efficient at capturing carbon dioxide than trees – by area and density. The purpose of the pilot was to prove that microalgae can be successfully grown outdoors in the UK climate without the need for temperature control, and crucially, the system was able to capture carbon on a small scale. Both objectives were clearly demonstrated over the course of the technology's trial period.