Algenie: revolutionising algae production at scale

Building on a foundation of research by the UTS Climate Change Cluster (C3), Algenie is a biotech company harnessing the extraordinary carbon-capturing power of algae to address two urgent global challenges: reducing atmospheric CO₂ and replacing fossil carbon in manufacturing. Algenie’s technology optimizes light and CO₂ delivery to algae cultures, maximizing productivity while minimizing costs and spatial footprint. 

The Green Genie proof-of-concept was developed at UTS in 2021 by Professors Peter Ralph and Long Nghiem, which has been built into an innovative system that efficiently directs CO₂ and light into algal production, capturing CO2 in the process. In 2024, Algenie was established as a UTS spin-out to commercialize this technology. Under the leadership of CEO Nick Hazell, John Martin and A/Prof. Mathieu Pernice, they have evolved the Green Genie proof-of-concept technology into the revolutionary "Helix" - a thin-layer photobioreactor that dramatically reduces production costs and spatial requirements while enhancing the algae’s productivity. 

The Helix represents a significant advancement in algal cultivation technology, enabling economically viable biomanufacturing and carbon sequestration at commercial scale. By transforming CO₂ into valuable biomass for applications in food, materials, and energy, Algenie creates a profitable pathway for industries to reduce their carbon footprint while participating in the emerging bioeconomy.