Latin America and the Caribbean is seeking to diversify the technologies that will support its energy transition. As the region advances in the deployment of renewable energy, a new area of research is emerging in laboratories: microalgae, organisms capable not only of generating energy but also of capturing carbon dioxide and treating wastewater within the same system.
This topic was central to the opening of the course “Applications of Microalgae in Bioelectrochemical Systems,” organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) in collaboration with the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo and its Alternative Energy and Environment Group (ESPOCH), which brings together researchers, academics, and professionals to examine applications that could simultaneously contribute to decarbonization, energy security, and the circular economy.
During the opening session, Andrés Rebolledo, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, stressed that the energy transition must go beyond deploying new energy sources and include solutions that address current environmental and productive challenges. The course is part of a strategy to strengthen capacities within OLACDE’s 27 member countries and aims to bring research closer to concrete industrial and environmental applications.
The first session addressed the growing international interest in microalgae. These are used as photosynthetic biocathodes capable of producing the oxygen needed for bioelectrochemical systems without requiring mechanical aeration, which reduces energy consumption. They are also able to remove nutrients, organic matter, and heavy metals present in wastewater, while simultaneously capturing carbon dioxide and generating biomass useful for biofuels, biofertilizers, and other valuable products.
For Celso Recalde, director of the Alternative Energy and Environment Group at the Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), the challenge is no longer purely scientific but one of institutional coordination. The expert noted that research carried out in Ecuador is already generating cooperation with European universities, and highlighted that the region’s microorganism biodiversity is enabling the development of solutions with applications in energy, water treatment, and desalination, drawing interest from beyond Latin America and the Caribbean.
The training is being carried out under the ETRELA project, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Government of Germany, and combines scientific fundamentals with practical case studies on bioelectricity, carbon capture, and comprehensive biomass utilization. Its goal is to build technical capacity to accelerate the incorporation of emerging technologies into the region’s energy transition.
The growing interest in this innovative field reflects a broader trend: today, the energy transition is not measured solely by the expansion of renewable energy; it also assesses the ability to develop technologies that effectively combine energy production with climate change mitigation and the efficient use of natural resources. In this context, microalgae are emerging as a promising option capable of addressing multiple challenges at once.
