BioCarbon Initiative
Accelerating global carbon capture with high-efficiency marine microalgae photoreactors.
The Problem
Traditional carbon capture technologies are highly energy-intensive and cost-prohibitive, making large-scale deployment unfeasible. As global carbon emissions continue to rise, we urgently need scalable, natural biological systems that can capture and sequester carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere without requiring vast amounts of energy or land.
Our Approach
Atria University is pioneering a high-rate marine algae photoreactor that maximizes carbon absorption through optimized light distribution and nutrient delivery systems. Unlike conventional methods, our bioreactor utilizes a proprietary local strain of microalgae capable of growing ten times faster than terrestrial plants, creating a highly efficient, compact, and scalable carbon sink that can be integrated into urban infrastructure.
Progress & Milestones
Track our completed achievements and upcoming milestones as we develop our high-efficiency bioreactor system.
Project Initiation & Team Formation
Assembled a multidisciplinary team of marine biologists, chemical engineers, and student researchers.
Seed Grant Awarded
Received a INR 25 Lakh research grant from the Department of Biotechnology for bioreactor design.
First Lab-scale Prototype Built
Constructed and deployed a 50-liter automated photoreactor with smart lighting controllers.
Research Paper Publication
Published study on 'Accelerated Photosynthetic Kinetics of Marine Microalgae' in the Journal of Clean Energy.
Pilot Scale Implementation (Upcoming)
Scaling up to a 500-liter system on the Atria campus to test real-world carbon capture from campus utility plants.
Real-World Reach & Relevance
Our research goes beyond lab environments to directly solve critical national and global climate priorities.
Climate & Environment
Enables high-speed local carbon capture. Deployed units can absorb up to 80% of localized CO2 emissions directly from urban hot spots.
Industry & Economy
Creates local manufacturing opportunities for bioreactor components. Converts captured algae biomass into valuable bio-fertilizers and bio-plastics.
Policy & Education
Provides a living laboratory for Atria UG students. Integrates biology, engineering, and digital tracking directly into our transdisciplinary curriculum.
The Minds Behind the Innovation
A collaborative group of principal investigators, student researchers, and industry experts.

Dr. Ananya Rao
Ph.D. in Marine Biotechnology with 12+ years of research in carbon capture systems. Formerly senior researcher at CSIR.
Core Team Members
- Prof. Rajesh KumarMechanical Engineering Lead
- Sneha PatelResearch Associate
- Vikram SinghStudent Researcher (UG Class of 26)
External Collaborators
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc)Bio-Systems Department
- CleanTech Labs IndiaSensor Integration Partner
Partners & Funding Agencies
This project is supported by competitive grants and strategic industry sponsorships. All collaborations adhere to strict research guidelines and ethical compliance frameworks established by Atria University and funding agency regulations.
Active Grants
DBT Bioprocess Seed Grant
Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India
Atria Sustainability Fellowship
Atria Foundation
Academic & Industry Partners
Media & Gallery
Glimpses of our research labs, advanced equipment, team in action, and data visualization models.

Photoreactor Array
Continuous light calibration testing.

Microalgae Analysis
Cell count monitoring under microscopic filters.

Spectrometer Lab
Measuring optical density profiles.

Data Dashboard
Real-time telemetry showing CO2 capture efficiency.
In The News
Recent publications, press coverage, conference presentations, and awards recognizing this research.
Atria University Unveils Localized High-Capacity Carbon Sequestration Bioreactor
Presenter at International Green Energy & Sustainability Symposium
Winner of 'Innovation in Academic CleanTech' National Award
Get In Touch
Whether you are an industry partner looking to collaborate or a prospective student eager to do hands-on research, we want to hear from you.
Collaborate With Us
Explore partnership opportunities, pilot deployment locations, and joint research ventures for industry scaling.
Industry PartnershipsStudy With Us
Join Atria University as an undergraduate or fellow and work directly on leading projects in our Signature Labs.
Apply For AdmissionsFor academic research inquiries, contact the Principal Investigator at:
ananya.rao@atria.edu