CADE Soluciones Advances in Sargassum Valorization through Hydrothermal Gasification (SCWG)
The growing accumulation of sargassum along Caribbean coastlines represents one of the most significant environmental, economic, and social challenges in the region. The management of sargassum has become a priority for governments, scientific institutions, and technology companies seeking sustainable and scalable solutions. In this context, CADE Soluciones participated as a speaker in the international webinar “Valorization of Sargassum through Hydrothermal Gasification,” organized jointly with the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC) and Algaltek, as part of the IDB–Switzerland–Hydrothermal Gasification of Sargassum Project. The event brought together more than 70 specialists from academic institutions, research centers, international organizations, embassies, and government entities from various countries.
For CADE, this event represented a strategic opportunity to share our experience and present progress in the application of supercritical water gasification (SCWG) as a key technology for the valorization of sargassum and its transformation into high-value energy and chemical products. The session highlighted the growing international interest in hydrothermal gasification–based solutions, a process capable of treating wet biomass without the need for drying and with particularly suitable performance for complex residues such as sargassum.
SCWG: a Disruptive Technology to Convert Sargassum into Renewable Hydrogen and Biomethane
During our presentation, we explained the operation and potential of the SCWG technology developed by CADE, our proprietary technology platform that enables the conversion of wet biomass, including organic waste, sludge, and algae such as sargassum, into a renewable gas rich in hydrogen, methane, and CO₂, as well as liquid and solid streams that can be further valorized through biorefinery processes.
Hydrothermal gasification offers unique advantages over other thermochemical processes, particularly when dealing with residues with high moisture content. By operating above the critical point of water (374 °C and 221 bar), SCWG enables efficient decomposition of organic matter without the need for prior drying stages, one of the major cost drivers associated with sargassum management.
In addition, SCWG enables:
Reduced environmental impact, by avoiding emissions associated with combustion processes.
Full utilization of wet biomass, in line with circular economy models.
Production of renewable hydrogen, a key vector for the energy transition.
Removal and stabilization of toxic compounds, such as heavy metals and chlorides present in sargassum.
This combination makes the hydrothermal gasification of sargassum a robust technological pathway for transforming a problematic waste into a source of renewable energy and valuable industrial products, fostering the development of new value chains in the Caribbean.
Challenges of Sargassum: Complex Chemistry, High Salinity, and Low Energy Density
During the webinar, we outlined the main technical challenges posed by sargassum as a feedstock for advanced thermochemical processes. This marine biomass is characterized by:
Low carbon content compared to other terrestrial biomasses.
High chloride levels due to its marine origin.
Significant content of heavy metals, such as arsenic or lead.
A tendency to cause mechanical blockages when pumped under high-pressure conditions.
CADE’s SCWG technology is designed to manage this type of complex biomass. Our team explained how the developed systems enable stable process operation, ensure the safe treatment of toxic elements, and optimize conversion into renewable gas even when the feedstock exhibits seasonal variability or chemical heterogeneity, features that are typical of sargassum collected from different areas of the Caribbean.
Technological Innovation and International Cooperation for the Valorization of Sargassum through Hydrothermal Gasification
The webinar, which also featured the participation of the Swiss Ambassador to the Dominican Republic and representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), AECID, AFD, the European Union, and other organizations, underscored the importance of investing in biorefinery technologies and hydrothermal gasification as a comprehensive response to the sargassum challenge.
For CADE, this project reinforces our vision of placing technological innovation at the service of sustainability. The collaboration with INTEC and Algaltek demonstrates that international cooperation is a key factor in accelerating the adoption of advanced technologies such as SCWG, and in generating industrially replicable solutions to achieve the valorization of sargassum through hydrothermal gasification.
CADE and the Future of Sargassum Valorization through Hydrothermal Gasification
The advances presented during the event consolidate CADE’s position as one of the most relevant technology players in the field of hydrothermal gasification applied to the management of wet waste. Our experience and engineering capabilities enable us to develop scalable solutions that can significantly contribute to the valorization of sargassum through hydrothermal gasification, the reduction of its environmental impact, and the creation of new economic opportunities in the region.
We will continue working with our partners to drive projects that transform the sargassum challenge into an energy and environmental opportunity, promoting a circular economy model based on renewable hydrogen and biomethane.
