Australia-based Algae.Tec Ltd. has completed commissioning and initial start-up of an algae production plant to produce algae-based nutraceutical products at the company’s Manufacturing & Development Centre in Atlanta.

The facility has a capacity of 50 tons of algae per year with flexibility to produce and test multiple algal strains based on nutritional requirements. The plant employs the company’s proprietary enclosed photobioreactor technology that provides a controlled environment for the production of algae products for nutraceutical applications. The company expects to secure an organic certification within the next few months.

The global market for algae-based nutraceutical products is currently more than $250 million per year, according to Algae.Tec, which is in discussions with customers for offtake agreements for the plant’s algae products. Algae used in nutraceutical products can sell for prices ranging from $10,000 per ton to more than $100,000 per ton, depending on the type of algae produced and its nutritional value. The company’s technology allows it to build multiple modularized plants using a small land footprint with each plant producing a range of different algae species to meet nutraceutical market product demand and growth.

“Achieving this milestone is a fantastic step for the company as this plant validates our technology whilst potentially producing a substantial income stream,” said Peter Hatfull, Algae.Tec’s managing director. “We will be raising funds to increase the production capacity in Atlanta immediately. This plant will also be used to continue the development of the company’s core technology. A full-size commercial plant could produce up to 10,000 tons per annum.”