Solaga

biological air purification from algae

 Better air by algae

60 % des globalen Sauerstoffs wird von Algen produziert.

Even medium CO2 concentrations are a productivity killer and lower our ability to think strategically.
Unser Algenbild – Alwe 2.0 verbindet Luftreinigung und Design und ermöglicht es dabei einen der effektivsten Sauerstofflieferanten des Planeten elegant in den Innenraum zu integrieren.

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Ein Algenbild zur Luftreinigung das begeistert!

Alwe 2.0 – das Algenbild ist die perfekte Kombination aus biologischem Luftreiniger und der ästhetischen Optik einer Wanddekoration. Dieses einzigartige Bild löst Faszination aus und eignet sich für alle Räumlichkeiten. 

Alwe macht sich die biologischen Eigenschaften der Mikroalgen zu Nutze, um Luftschadstoffe zu binden und unschädlich zu machen. Hängen Sie sich Ihren Alwe einfach wie ein herkömmliches Bild an die Wand und es wird sofort mit der Reinigung Ihrer Luft beginnen.   

Alwe-Dry

Alwe-Dry

ein einzigartiges Bild aus konservierten Mikroalgen für zu Hause

Our philosophy

Solaga ist ein Biotech Unternehmen, welches es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht hat, die Luft von gesundheitsschädlichen Schadstoffen zu befreien. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen machen wir uns die morphologischen Eigenschaften der Mikroalgen zu Nutze.

Günder des Startup Solaga

mission

Unsere Mission ist es, die Luft, die wir einatmen, von gefährlichen Schadstoffen zu befreien, damit wir alle ein längeres und gesünderes Leben führen können.

vision

Unsere Vision ist es, Algen in der Gesellschaft zu etablieren. Durch die Umsetzung unserer Projekte sollen Algen in allen Bereichen des Lebens als biologische Luftreiniger eingesetzt werden können.

technology

Our technologies are based on the natural properties of microalgae. In nature, the small organisms use air pollutants as a nutrient medium for their growth.

Unsere Lösung - Algenbiofilm

Neben Großprojekten wie Fassadenbegrünungen und urbanen Filtern für Innenstädte möchten wir vor allem Bereiche, in denen wir Menschen uns am häufigsten aufhalten, von Luftschadstoffen befreien

Hierfür entwickelten wir den Mikroalgenbiofilm, bestehend aus lebenden Algen zur Luftreinigung. Diese sind aufgrund ihrer physiologischen Eigenschaften in der Lage, Luftschadstoffe wie Feinstaub, Stickoxide und weitere gesundheitsschädlichen Chemikalien aufzunehmen, umzuwandeln und als Nährmedium für ihr Wachstum zu verwenden.

Awards

BIO Founders Competition

First place 

Approximately 100 guests from science, business and politics selected from new innovations.

German Sustainability Award

Nominated

Our Alwe was nominated for the "German Sustainability Award Design 2021".

Deutschland Land der Ideen

Award winner

The project "Solar Gas Plant Solaga" is one of the 100 innovative winners of the competition.

Dass Grünzeug der Luft in Innenräumen guttut, weiß man schon länger. Das Berliner Start-up Solaga setzt dabei statt auf Monstera und Gummibaum auf Mikroalgen zur Luftreinigung, wie man sie beispielsweise unter Steinen findet und weil deren Photosynthese effizienter ist als die von Pflanzen.

Welt.de 
German

With dire climate change reports landing one after another in 2018 the need for sustainable, scalable, and affordable biofuels to aid in this transition to a more sustainable future has never been greater.

Labiotech.eu
English 

Unsere Projekte

urbaner Algenfilter

Multifilter

In development

Urban air purification

Algae, unlike plants, do not need a specific substrate - no "soil". Air purification in the urban algae filter is carried out by algae arranged in several stages, which remove pollutants from roads and industrial facilities.

Algencontainer solare Biogaspoduktion

biogas

In development

Green energy

Algae not only absorb pollutants, but also produce valuable materials in the process. Solaga deals with the entry into a circular economy and researches the production and use for the bioeconomy and green energy sources: hydrogen and biogas.

FAQ

Microalgae are unicellular microorganisms that belong to the class of phototrophic organisms, i.e. they carry out photosynthesis. This means that microalgae, just like plants, use light to bind carbon dioxide and release oxygen.

Alwe - The algae image uses specially selected microalgae, which are found in nature especially under stones. As a result, these organisms are adapted to be active even under very difficult light conditions - such as those we find in our interiors - and to carry out effective photosynthesis, among other things. For this purpose they have developed extraordinary photosystems, which are clearly different from those of plants.

Microalgae have a more flexible metabolism than plants, for example, and can therefore break down a large number of pollutants.

The current dimensions of Alwe50 are 50x50x5cm. The weight is 1.2 kg when empty and about 1.5 kg when filled.

In biologically correct terms, the algae are blue-green algae, i.e. cyanobacteria. These are adapted to low light and have special pigments that enable photosynthesis even at the lowest light levels. This makes microalgae biofilms more efficient than plants and also air improvers in places where plants die mercilessly. 

In investigations with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing and the Technical University of Berlin, we have also discovered that microalgae biofilms can effectively bind air pollutants that are hazardous to health, such as nitrogen oxides and fine dust.

Initial tests at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing also point to the reduction of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) escaping from paints and building materials. Microalgae have a more flexible metabolism than plants, for example, and can therefore break down a large number of these pollutants.

Microalgae need light for their metabolism. Our algae picture is therefore best suited for rooms that are at least partially exposed to the sun.

However, please avoid attaching Alwe to surfaces that are often exposed to direct sunlight. If there is too much sunlight, more water will evaporate and the microalgae may start to break down their photo systems. The result is the fading of the biofilm. Should this happen, do not panic: Just leave Alwe in a shady place for some time and the biofilm will regenerate.

When designing Alwe, it was particularly important to us to keep the handling simple and manageable. That's why there is a small water tank in each Alwe, which needs to be refilled approximately every two weeks.

Yes, Alwe consists of living algae which adapt to the local light conditions. In shady areas the algae take on a deep green colour, as the micro-algae accumulate more pigments to absorb light more effectively. In semi-shade areas, the micro-algae need less pigments for successful photosynthesis and thus get a rather juicy and natural green colour.

In direct sunlight there is an overflow of energy in the algae. Under certain circumstances, this may cause the algae to actively break down their photo systems. The result is a colour change to light green or yellowish.

Algae films have not yet been researched in the long term, as these materials are completely new. However, we have not been able to identify any time limits in our previous R&D projects. Some of our algae films are already 4 years old and still healthy and productive, which is even more important. As algae films are living materials, no general statement can be made about their lifetime, as this obviously depends on care and local conditions. As far as we know, however, our biofilms are very robust, making them suitable even for users with brown rather than green thumbs.

With the purchase an Alwe we guarantee a minimum service life of 6 months. If problems occur within this period, you can return your Alwe without any problems and have it replaced by us.

Even after this period of 6 months you can of course always have your Alwe checked by us or you can try out one of our new biofilms. Please feel free to contact our service team.

In interiors, lighting in particular differs from natural light. Even with perceived bright interior lighting, the photosynthetically activating radiation is very low. This is because normal indoor lighting lacks the red and violet components of natural light that most plants need for photosynthesis. The microalgae biofilms we use, on the contrary, have special pigments that enable them to use light outside the red and violet spectrum for photosynthesis.

In addition, microalgae do not have roots or a stem and are therefore metabolically more effective compared to plants. 

Our carefully cultivated microalgae belong to the so-called safety level 1, which describes organisms that are unlikely to have a negative effect on health. This means that they are not dangerous to animals, humans, plants or water and can be used without restrictions. Organisms from the food industry such as cultures of yoghurt or baker's yeast also belong to this safety class.

Our biofilms are produced under sterile conditions. Only when the biofilms have formed their characteristic protective skin layer are they released by us for usage in the algae image "Alwe".

BIO Founders Competition

First place 

Approximately 100 guests from science, business and politics selected from new innovations.

German Sustainability Award

Nominated

Our Alwe was nominated for the "German Sustainability Award Design 2021".

Deutschland Land der Ideen

Award winner

The project "Solar Gas Plant Solaga" is one of the 100 innovative winners of the competition.

Air pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that life expectancy in Europe will be reduced by up to 3 years due to the inhalation of air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and the University Medical Center Mainz calculated that, on a global average, life expectancy worldwide will be reduced by a staggering 2.9 years, resulting in around 9 million premature deaths. And the trend is upward. This makes the consequences of air pollution even more serious than cardiovascular risk factors such as cigarette smoking (2.2 years).

We as a company would like to stop this trend. With our biological, self-sufficient air filter system made of microalgae, we have declared war on air pollution!

Biological air purifier and green design

Biodegrading air pollutants with living wall elements

Biological Air Purifier

Natural algae filter pollutants from the air and release oxygen.

Matching frame & easy maintenance

The suitably designed frame of the algae image promotes air circulation and provides optimal watering through a water tank at the back.

Healthy air

Algae absorb all substances from the environment and remove not only CO² but also nitrogen oxides, fine dust and other gases. This makes the algae superior to plants and mosses.

Reinigungsleistung:  25 m²

Your Alwe delivery at a glance

Home delivery, 6 months warranty, easy replacement

Home delivery

After ordering in the webshop, the algae picture is conveniently delivered to their home. In addition, you will receive simple instructions, a suitable water bottle and fertilizer.

Lebenszyklus

Algen sind einem natürlichen Zyklus unterworfen und werden mit der Zeit etwas heller. Um eine optimale Filterleistung zu erhalten, empfehlen wir den Algenbiofilm jeden vierten Monat auszutauschen.

Easy exchange

Auf Anfrage senden wir Ihnen einen neuen natürlichen Biofilm, den Sie mittels eines Schiebesystems einfach gegen den alten Biofilm austauschen können, zu. Eine ausführliche Anleitung liegt dieser Lieferung ebenfalls bei. Außerhalb der Garantie kostet ein neuer Biofilm 59 Euro.

Air purification with algae: The algae picture from Solaga

Poor indoor climate is improved by algae

Alwe is the best answer to all these influences, because Alwe harnesses the survivability of living organisms to create clean air naturally:

Alwe is an eco-efficient wall decoration. The algae pattern brings life to the wall - space-saving and easy to clean. At the heart of Alwe is a living microalgae biofilm that actively binds and renders harmless air pollutants as an air purifier. Ventilation openings on the left and right sides integrate Alwe into the room's natural air circulation. Air pollutants are trapped on the moist surface of the microalgae biofilm. The trapped pollutants are then deactivated and consumed by the immobilized microalgae.