For the design and construction of its commercial facility in Maitland, Australia, Aurora Algae has given the initial engineering contract to MWH engineering firm, a global company in wet infrastructure, and John Holland (JH), the largest multidiscipline construction contracting business in Australia. The facility will be built on Aurora Algae’s recently secured 1,500 acres of land near its recently opened demonstration facility in Karratha. By this Aurora has taken a step forward towards the construction of the largest commercial scale algae facility in the world.

Aurora Algae's Production Facility

The commercial facility will be equipped to manufacture huge quantities of algae biomass annually for the production of nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, aquaculture and renewable energy products.

Alongside, Aurora Algae has received the status of Major Project Facilitation (MPF), granted by the Hon. Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. By Aurora Algae’s project Australia can make the best possible use of the global economic recovery as well as the commercial opportunities flowing from international efforts to cut carbon pollution.

The MPF program is administered by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, and provides the project with a facilitation service to achieve quick and timely assistance from the Australian Government. Presently, there are 19 projects with MPF status across a range of industries, collectively representing a potential investment of over $120 billion. The Minister remarked that companies like Aurora Algae have the potential to create huge amounts of highly skilled ‘green-collar’ jobs and new export opportunities.

Greg Taylor, general manager of John Holland’s Water and Enviro business stated that the John Holland team is excited to be working with Aurora Algae and MWH to deliver this commercial-scale new technology carbon reduction project that will have a positive benefit on the environment. Greg Baffalis, the CEO of Aurora Algae claims that the company is now the first global company to commercial project for the production of biofuels and bioproducts from marine algae.

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