Wire and cable solutions provider Southwire has partnered with Algae Tree, a company that creates carbon removal units with an added aesthetic value, to deploy an Algae Tree installation at Southwire’s Thorn Customer Solutions Center in Georgia.
This week, the two companies successfully delivered the pilot deployment, in collaboration with the University of Georgia (UGA) College of Engineering.
Visitors of the Thorn Center can now see the unique installation active on the site, where it will serve to capture carbon dioxide emissions from the air.
This deployment follows a prototype presentation delivered by UGA students at the 2024 Capstone Design Showcase event, where the public and the university’s community had a chance to learn more about this innovation.
In its essence, the Algae Tree represents a photobioreactor designed in the shape of a tree, where CO2 is captured by microalgae that grow inside the tree sculpture.
This specific unit is powered by a naturally occurring strain of microalgae called Arthrospira platensis (spirulina), which, according to Algae Tree, has the atmospheric CO2 capture capacity equivalent to 38 fully grown trees.
To monitor the performance of the unit and gain insights on possible future optimizations, Southwire and Algae Tree are collaborating with engineering students from the University of Georgia, who will analyze data from the pilot as it operates on location.
The gathered information will be used as a pointer for designing future Algae Tree ventures that will deploy this aesthetically shaped CDR technology on a larger scale.
Relevant: Introducing Chonkus: The Carbon-Devouring Algae That Sinks To The Ocean Floor
In a statement, Algae Tree founder Jeffery Whitmire underlined that this product offers a great way for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, explaining,
“Our tree-shaped sculptures actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while engaging with the public and making a statement of beauty.”
Bo Quick, VP of corporate sustainability at Southwire, commented that the company was pleased to engage with Algae Tree and UGA students on this joint project, adding, “Southwire has a long-held commitment to sustainability, and this project aligns with our efforts to support education and reduce impacts to the environment.”
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