H 2 Production from Solar Energy using Algae Technology

1. H2 Production from Solar Energy using Algae Technology Stig A. Borgvang and Kari Skjånes Bioforsk

2. A Joint Indo-Norwegian-Swedish Scientific Research Collaboration Project Facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Delhi, Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3. Bioforsk - the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research Fotomol - the Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science at the Ångström Laboratories, Uppsala University, Biohydrogen Production Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur

5. H2 Production by algae • Conceptual processes in nature • Developmental stage in the laboratory • Tested for feasibility • Applied towards commercialisation

6. Target groups • Relevant research communities throughout the world • Commercial interests linked to i.a. the pharmaceutical and health food industries • Relevant authorities at all levels • You and Me

7. Project goals Establish a Scientific and Technological Platform for the Development of new, Commercially Competitive and Environmentally friendly H2 Production Systems by converting Solar Energy to H2 using Photosynthesis in Algae, combined with Capture of CO2 from Flue Gas and Production of high Value Products.

8. To Reach the Goals • Produce H2 from solar energy using cultures grown on CO2 from flue gas • Optimise the H2 production from green algae and cyanobacteria by improved insight into function, characteristics and regulation of hydrogenases

9. To Reach the Goals • Examine the remaining biomass for content of high valuable components, and for use as health food, aquaculture/animal feed and fertiliser • Produce at least two high impact research publications/year

12. Challenges • Efficiency Economical and energetical efficiency of the process • H2 production from algal cultures grown on different carbon sources H2 production from algae cultivated using flue gas from industry as a CO2 source. • Awareness • Public awareness- political awareness • Photobioreactors for H2 production: Design and development of photobioreactorsoptimised for H2production

13. Challenges • Hydrogenases There are still many unknowns regarding functions, characteristics and regulation of hydrogenases,in addition to the enzyme’s role in the energymetabolism of the cell • Use of algal biomass Production ofvaluablecomponents from stress reactions under H2 production • Viability Bridging of the gap between research and commercial interests in order to make the whole process economically viable.

16. Achievements • Bioreactors • H2 production mechanisms – DNA/ RNA • H2 production combined with use of algal biomass • Publishing of results

17. Achievements Bioreactors 8 different types ofphotobioreactors have beenconstructed at IIT Kharagpur All bioreactors have beentested for efficiencyregarding CO2capture and H2 production. Selectedbioreactors to be demonstrated at the Norwegian pavillion at DIREC 2010

18. C. N. Dasgupta, J. Gilbert, P. Lindblad, T. Heidorn, S.A..Borgvang, K. Skjånes and D. Das. 2010,Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 35: 10218-10238

19. Achievements • DNA-RNA side of the H2production in green algae and cyanobacteria: • New discoveries in mechanisms behind H2 production opens up for increased efficiency of the project: • transcriptional regulation of Hox-hydrogenase genes in the cyanobacteria Synechocystis. • introductionof foreign hydrogenaseintobacteria • three distinct HydAhydrogenase genes in the green algae Chlamydomonasnoctigama

20. Basics: HydA in C.noctigama: Skjånes, K., Pinto, F. L. and Lindblad, P. 2010, Int.J. Hydrogen 35: 1074-1088 Hox in Synechocystis: Oliveira, P. and Lindblad, P. 2009. Dalton Trans. 45: 9990-9996

21. Achievements • H2 production in combination with use of algal biomass • Map of the high number of species able to produce H2 (only a handful have been previously explored). • Map of the high number of species able to produce high amounts of secondary metabolites with high economic potential, potential to combine with H2 production.

22. Achievements • Transcriptional Regulation of the Cyanobacterial Bidirectional Hox-hydrogenase. Oliveira, P. and Lindblad, P. 2009. Dalton Transactions 45: 9990-9996 • Evidence for transcription of three genes with characteristics of hydrogenases in the green alga Chlamydomonasnoctigama. Skjånes, K., Pinto, F. L. and Lindblad, P. 2010, International Journal of Hydrogen 35: 1074-1088. • Recent trends on the development of photo-biological processes and photobioreactors for the improvement of hydrogen production. C. N. Dasgupta, J. Gilbert, P. Lindblad, T. Heidorn, S.A..Borgvang, K. Skjånes and D. Das. 2010,Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 35: 10218-10238. • Develpmentofsuitablephotobioreactors for CO2sequestrationaddressingglabalwarmingusing green algae and cyanobacteria. Kumar, K., Heidorn, T., Lindblad P., Das, D. 2010, Manuscriptsubmitted. • Analysis of the potential for green microalgae to produce hydrogen, pharmaceuticals and other high value products in a combined process, K. Skjånes, P. Lindblad, Manuscript to be submitted by end of 2010. + multiple oral and poster presentations at internationalconferences

23. Future work-Project • Further testing and developmentof prototype bioreactors for H2 production • Optimisationof H2 production in selected species by physio-chemical parameters • H2 production from algaecultured on different C-sources • Expression ofhydrogenase genes from green algae under different conditions

24. Future work: Project • Introductionof foreign hydrogenaseintocyanobacteria • Maturationand regulationofhydrogenase from cyanobacteria • Expression ofsecondarymetabolites from hydrogen producingalgae under selected stress conditions

27. Internationalisation: Joint efforts