H2 Production from Solar Energy using Algae Technology

Stig A. Borgvangand

Kari Skjånes

Bioforsk

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

Bioforsk - the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and

Environmental Research

Biohydrogen Production Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology,

Kharagpur

Fotomol - the Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science at the Ångström Laboratories,

Uppsala University,

H2 Production by algae

• Conceptual processes in nature

• Developmental stage in the laboratory

• Tested for feasibility

• Applied towards commercialisation

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

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.

Project goals

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

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

• EfficiencyEconomical 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 photobioreactors optimised for H2 production

•

Challenges

• HydrogenasesThere are still many unknowns regarding functions,

characteristics and regulation of hydrogenases, in addition to the enzyme’s role in the energy metabolism of the cell

• Use of algal biomassProduction of valuable components from stress reactions under

H2 production

 • ViabilityBridging of the gap between research and commercial interests

in order to make the whole process economically viable.

Challenges

Achievements

• Bioreactors

• H2 production mechanisms – DNA/ RNA

• H2 production combined with use of algal biomass

• Publishing of results

Bioreactors•8 different types of photobioreactors have been constructed at IIT Kharagpur•All bioreactors have been tested for efficiency regarding CO2 capture and H2 production.•Selected bioreactors to be demonstrated at the Norwegian pavillion at DIREC 2010

Achievements

Open system

Ponds systems Unstirred ponds Circular ponds Raceway type paddle wheel ponds

Closed system Tubular systems

Vertical tubular

Bubble column Airlift reactor Triangular airlift

Horizontal tubular

Horizontal tubular reactor Fence like

α-shaped tubular

Helical tubular

Helical tubular (bubble train) Conical tubular

Flat plate

Vertical flat plate Vertical flat plate V-shaped flat with bubbling with recirculation

Flat plate Tilted flat plate Flat panel with baffles rocking motion

Fermentor type

Fermentor with Torus shaped Triple jacketed internal illumination reactor

Other geometries

Cone shaped Pyramid shaped

Other types

Absorptive tower Induce diffused reactor

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

DNA-RNA side of the H2 production 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.

• introduction of foreign hydrogenase into bacteria

• three distinct HydA hydrogenase genes in the green algae Chlamydomonas noctigama

Achievements

Basics: HydA in C.noctigama:

Hox in Synechocystis:

Oliveira, P. and Lindblad, P. 2009. Dalton Trans. 45: 9990-9996

Skjånes, K., Pinto, F. L. and Lindblad, P. 2010, Int.J. Hydrogen 35: 1074-1088

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.

1.Transcriptional Regulation of the Cyanobacterial Bidirectional Hox-hydrogenase. Oliveira, P. and Lindblad, P. 2009. Dalton Transactions 45: 9990-9996

2.Evidence for transcription of three genes with characteristics of hydrogenases in the green alga Chlamydomonas noctigama. Skjånes, K., Pinto, F. L. and Lindblad, P. 2010, International Journal of Hydrogen 35: 1074-1088.

3.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.

4.Develpment of suitable photobioreactors for CO2 sequestration addressing glabal warming using green algae and cyanobacteria. Kumar, K., Heidorn, T., Lindblad P., Das, D. 2010, Manuscript submitted.

5.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 international conferences

Achievements

Future work-Project

• Further testing and development of prototype bioreactors for H2 production

• Optimisation of H2 production in selected species

by physio-chemical parameters

• H2 production from algae cultured on different C-sources

• Expression of hydrogenase genes from green algae under different conditions

Future work: Project

• Introduction of foreign hydrogenase into cyanobacteria

• Maturation and regulation of hydrogenase from cyanobacteria

• Expression of secondary metabolites from hydrogen producing algae under selected stress conditions

Internationalisation: Joint efforts