Photobioreactors are known to be complex and costly to operate. Is the SolarConverter system the same as a photobioreactor?

The SolarConverter^® system captures photonic energy from the sun, but it's designed to serve an entirely novel purpose with economies of scale that far surpass photobioreactors. In the context of biofuels, photobioreactors are used to cultivate algae biomass, and productivity levels fall short of justifying capital costs. By contrast, Joule does not grow or use biomass to produce fuels. The SolarConverter system houses a circulating medium, comprised of proprietary organisms, brackish water and micro nutrients, and facilitates CO₂ conversion to fuels and chemicals in a direct, continuous process. The SolarConverter panels are thin and modular, precisely designed for optimal use of light, ease of installation and scale. Joule's anticipated productivity and capital cost per gallon make the SolarConverter system highly cost-effective.