Algae farming contributes to carbon capture by absorbing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, the process algae use to grow. As algae cells grow, they take in CO2 from the atmosphere or from concentrated industrial emissions, converting it into biomass. This natural carbon fixation process helps reduce greenhouse gases, particularly when algae farms are located near power plants or industrial facilities where carbon emissions can be captured directly and fed into algae cultivation systems.
The carbon stored in the algae can be locked into useful products such as biofuels, animal feed, fertilizers, or bioplastics, effectively keeping it out of the atmosphere for longer periods. Large-scale algae farms have the potential to capture significant amounts of carbon while producing valuable products, making algae farming an attractive tool for climate change mitigation.
