Photobioreactor systems including a supply material processing sub-system, a reactor sub-system, a product material processing sub-system, and a solar energy supply sub-system are provided. The reactor sub-system includes a photobioreactor configured for containing a reaction mixture that is operative for effecting photosynthesis upon exposure to photosynthetically active light radiation. The supply material processing sub-system is configured for supplying the reactor with supply material. The product material processing sub-system is configured for receiving reaction zone product discharged from the reactor and effecting separation of a liquid component from the received reaction zone product. The solar energy supply sub-system includes at least one solar collector mounted to the photobioreactor and includes a solar collector surface configured for receiving incident solar radiation and configured for transmitting energy derived from received incident solar radiation and supplying energy to at least one of the other sub-systems.