CO2 capture and utilization system and method

A carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilization system, comprising:

• a CO2 capture unit including a membrane CO2 absorber for receiving a flue gas, the membrane CO2 absorber including
• a first section in which the flue gas is received into the membrane CO2 absorber,
• a second section through which an ammonium solvent passes, and
• a membrane positioned between the first section and the second section, the membrane configured to prevent direct contact between the flue gas and ammonium solvent but permit the passage of CO2 within the flue gas from the first section to the second section, whereby the interaction between the ammonium solvent and the CO2 in the second section produce CO2-rich solvent;
• and
• a utilization unit in fluid communication with the CO2 capture unit and including a cultivation subsystem for cultivating one or more species of algae or cyanobacteria;
• wherein, in use, the utilization unit processes the CO2-rich solvent to produce a product stream that is provided to the cultivation subsystem and includes CO2 and NH3 in a predetermined CO2:NH3 ratio of about 7:1 to about 16:1.