Microalgae: three players join forces to green the chemicals industry

NeoCarbons, De Dietrich and France PBR have formalised a strategic partnership to industrialise naturally derived molecules from microalgae and reduce reliance on fossil resources. At the heart of this alliance lies a combination of three complementary areas of expertise. NeoCarbons, a technology company, contributes its patented industrial photosynthesis reactor capable of recycling CO₂ to produce valuable carbon chains. De Dietrich, a recognised industrial group, brings its know-how in process design, equipment, and key extraction and purification stages. Finally, France PBR, a specialist in photobioreactors, is responsible for the design, optimisation and scale-up of microalgae production systems. 

The objective is to validate, by 2026, a 1 m³ semi-industrial pilot – an initial step towards modular biorefineries capable of producing peptides, pigments or lipids from CO₂. The project primarily targets pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and dermo-cosmetic markets, before expanding more broadly into green chemistry and bioenergy sectors. 

The consortium also intends to open this platform to other industrial players to test their microalgae strains or co-develop new ingredients, reflecting a clear ambition to accelerate the transition towards circular chemistry at an industrial scale.