Sbir phase i: area efficient cultivation technology for dense microalgae cultures

Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Namaka Algae, Inc. received a $304,541 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084) effective June 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026. The award funds development of cost-effective technology to enable dense microalgae cultivation by improving light capture and distribution. The core innovation involves passive solar concentrating elements combined with an underwater light guide designed to divert sunlight beneath the culture surface, optimizing light penetration while managing biofouling of optical components. The research targets achieving 80% light capture efficiency and distributing at least 40% of delivered light to achieve a projected 60-80% reduction in net algae production costs.

The project addresses critical gaps in aquaculture feed supply by enabling viable U.S.-based algae manufacturing for high-quality feed production. Beyond algal cultivation, the light distribution technology has broader applications in vertical agriculture and precision agriculture sectors, with potential to create jobs in rural areas unsuitable for traditional farming. This SBIR Phase I effort supports NSF's mission to advance scientific and technological innovation while strengthening national food security and U.S. global competitiveness in aquaculture as aquaculture demand accelerates toward becoming the world's dominant farmed animal protein source by 2030.

Abstract

The broader/commercial impact of this small business innovation research phase i project are twofold: a disruptive algal production system that lowers costs while reducing land and water use, and U.S.-based algae industry to support aquaculture feed production and enhance food security. Algae cultivation is costly due to limited light penetration in dense cultures. This project aims to develop cost-effective technology to capture and distribute sunlight, reducing costs, land, and water use to make algae a viable food source. Aquaculture is the fastest growing food segment in the world, set to surpass chicken farming as the most farmed animal by 2030. This will drive demand for high-quality feeds and feed ingredients, such as proteins and micronutrients. U.S. Algal manufacturing can meet this need, advancing national health, prosperity, and food security while driving US global leadership in innovation in aquaculture. The light technology developed will have applications not only in algae production, but also vertical agriculture and other precision agriculture industries facilitating the creation of jobs in rural areas that traditionally cannot be used for agriculture. This sbir phase i technical innovation involves passive capture and distribution of sunlight to increase growth in algae via a novel solar concentrating elements combined with an underwater light guide. The focus of the research will be in diverting sunlight beneath the culture surface to optimize light capture while ensuring adequate remediation of potential biofouling of the light distribution elements. Goals include a light capture efficiency of 80% and distribution of an integrated light amount of at least 40% of what was delivered into the rod to achieve a reduction of net algae production costs by 60-80% as theoretically predicted. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.