The Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) is the portion of the solar spectrum that ranges from 400 to 700 nm. This range corresponds to the wavelengths that plants use to perform photosynthesis and matches with the spectrum visible to the human eye. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in measuring this variable due to its numerous applications in different fields of study, such as calculations involving Gross Primary Production (GPP) or terrestrial Net Primary Production (NPP). PAR is also an important variable for estimating the growth of biomass and microalgae.

The GeoPAR project, (CGL2016-79284-P), is financed by the State Program for the Promotion of Scientific and Technical Research, State Subprogram for Knowledge Generation, within the framework of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2013 -2016 of the Spanish State Research Agency (Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness), co-financed with the European Regional Development Funds (ERDF).

The objective of the project is the development of a network of PAR measurements, from which a regional scale modeling is carried out, as well as the creation of a web service for maps and data access.

To do this, PAR satellite estimates from MODIS and CM-SAF were corrected by using PAR models developed with PAR measurements collected at radiometric stations located across Spain. Thus, better PAR estimates are available anywhere in the territory of study, that can be used by companies or entities interested in PAR applications.

Algatec-CM (S2018 / BAA-4532) is a research network promoted and funded by the Department of Education and Research of the Community of Madrid, Programs of R&D Activities among Research Groups of the Community of Madrid in the call Technologies 2018, co-financed with the operational programs of the European Union (European Social Fund, European Structural Funds and European Regional Development Fund).

Six research groups, belonging to various universities and public research centers, work continuously generating knowledge and contributing to progress for the sustainable and viable exploitation of microalgae.

ALGATEC is an ambitious proposal that requires a multidisciplinary consortium made up of research groups with complementary lines of research. ALGATEC project requires the combination of the research experience of the aforementioned groups, in order to achieve its goals of introducing a real change in the technology of production and valorization of microalgae, with the business focus oriented towards Madrid’s SMEs.