A floating seaweed and floating aquatic plant farming system includes an enclosed area positioned in a water body. The enclosed area is defined by one or more floating booms each including an attached mesh skirt. The system also includes a harvesting system for collecting seaweed growth in the floating enclosed area. The harvesting system is static or dynamic in relation to the floating enclosed area. The system may also include a processing system on a vessel containing the harvesting system. The one or more floating booms are secured in a location in the water body with an anchor system or with pilings. Alternatively, the enclosed area is defined by one or more mesh panels each secured to, and extending across spaces between, pilings. The seaweed is grown within the enclosed area and harvested by the harvesting system.

Floating ponds for the cultivation of algae are disclosed. The floating ponds consist of a buoyant framework, a liner, a culture, and a mooring system. Submersible floating ponds are disclosed with a buoyant framework built from tubes that may be filled or partially filled with, for example, air, or water, or the surrounding water, or the culture, and thereby the present invention provides a framework in which the buoyancy may be modulated. Use of submerging lines and spools are disclosed to control the orientation and depth of the floating pond during submersion.

Floating ponds for the cultivation of algae are disclosed. The floating ponds consist of a buoyant framework, a liner, a culture, and a mooring system. Submersible floating ponds are disclosed with a buoyant framework built from tubes that may be filled or partially filled with, for example, air, or water, or the surrounding water, or the culture, and thereby the present invention provides a framework in which the buoyancy may be modulated. Use of submerging lines and spools are disclosed to control the orientation and depth of the floating pond during submersion.

A method of cultivating algal cells of an algae belonging to a class selected from Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Haptophyceae includes: irradiating the algal cells with an artificial light having a ratio of (i) photon flux density in a wavelength range of 520-630 nm to (ii) photosynthetic photon flux density, that is 65% or more; and measuring a condition of the algal cells and/or a condition of an algal cell culture provided by cultivating the algal cells. Irradiation and non-irradiation of the algal cells with the artificial light are switched, or the photon flux density in the wavelength range of 520-630 nm is changed, according to the measured condition of the algal cells and/or the measured condition of the algal cell culture.

A method of cultivating algal cells of an algae belonging to a class selected from Chlorophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Haptophyceae includes: irradiating the algal cells with an artificial light having a ratio of (i) photon flux density in a wavelength range of 520-630 nm to (ii) photosynthetic photon flux density, that is 65% or more; and measuring a condition of the algal cells and/or a condition of an algal cell culture provided by cultivating the algal cells. Irradiation and non-irradiation of the algal cells with the artificial light are switched, or the photon flux density in the wavelength range of 520-630 nm is changed, according to the measured condition of the algal cells and/or the measured condition of the algal cell culture.

A system and method for converting food waste and other biologically-derived waste materials into nutrients for an algal growth system using worms to produce such nutrients is described. In one embodiment, a method for converting food waste into nutrients for an algal growth system using worms includes providing food waste to a container including a plurality of worms. The method also includes collecting castings from the food waste processed by the plurality of worms. The method further includes providing a wash to the container. The wash causes the castings to move to a bottom portion of the container adjacent to a moveable screen. The method includes actuating the moveable screen so that the castings pass through a plurality of holes in the moveable screen. The method also includes providing the passed castings to an algal growth system.

A system and method for converting food waste and other biologically-derived waste materials into nutrients for an algal growth system using worms to produce such nutrients is described. In one embodiment, a method for converting food waste into nutrients for an algal growth system using worms includes providing food waste to a container including a plurality of worms. The method also includes collecting castings from the food waste processed by the plurality of worms. The method further includes providing a wash to the container. The wash causes the castings to move to a bottom portion of the container adjacent to a moveable screen. The method includes actuating the moveable screen so that the castings pass through a plurality of holes in the moveable screen. The method also includes providing the passed castings to an algal growth system.

A deepwater photobioreactor system including a vertical stack extending between an ocean surface and an ocean floor. The vertical stack includes an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit where the inlet conduit is arranged to transport at least seawater and the outlet conduit is arranged to transport at least a biomass. The system includes a first photobioreactor in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit that is connected to the vertical stack via the inlet and outlet conduits at a first position along the vertical stack below the ocean surface. The first bioreactor is arranged to cultivate the biomass. The system also includes a mooring system arranged to anchor the vertical stack to the ocean floor and arranged to receive the biomass via the outlet conduit and output the biomass to a harvest pipeline.

A deepwater photobioreactor system including a vertical stack extending between an ocean surface and an ocean floor. The vertical stack includes an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit where the inlet conduit is arranged to transport at least seawater and the outlet conduit is arranged to transport at least a biomass. The system includes a first photobioreactor in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit that is connected to the vertical stack via the inlet and outlet conduits at a first position along the vertical stack below the ocean surface. The first bioreactor is arranged to cultivate the biomass. The system also includes a mooring system arranged to anchor the vertical stack to the ocean floor and arranged to receive the biomass via the outlet conduit and output the biomass to a harvest pipeline.

A system for growing algae includes a photobioreactor comprising a tubular structure having inner and outer surfaces, an annular space defined between the inner and outer surfaces, an inlet to allow an algae slurry to enter the annular space, and a mechanism configured to produce radially-directed contractions and expansions in the tubular structure. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces is transparent to at least some wavelengths of light useful for growing algae within the algae slurry.