Assessment of the CO2 fixation capacity of Anabaena sp. ATCC 33047 outdoor cultures in vertical flat-panel reactors.

•The efficiency of CO2 capture and conversion into biomass by cultures of Anabaena has been assessed both indoors and outdoors.•Outdoor cultures have been simultaneously operated in different reactor types throughout a full year.•The observed differential performance of the cultures depends upon the peculiarities of the particular reactor.•On a per area basis, cultures in flat-panel reactor performed better than in either open pond or tubular horizontal reactor.•The appropriate culture of Anabaena in flat-panel reactor represents a most suitable system for CO2 capture and conversion.