Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

The use of fossil fuels presents a particularly interesting challenge - our society strongly depends on coal and oil, but we are aware that their use is damaging the environment. Currently, this awareness is gaining momentum, and pressure to evolve towards an energetically cleaner planet is very strong. Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is an environmentally suitable energy carrier that could initially supplement or even substitute fossil fuels.

Ideally, the primary energy source to produce hydrogen gas should be renewable, and the process of conversion back to energy without polluting emissions, making this cycle environmentally clean. Photoconversion of water to hydrogen can be achieved using the following strategies: 1) the use of photochemical fuel cells, 2) by applying photovoltaics, or 3) by promoting production of hydrogen by photosynthetic microorganisms, either phototrophic anoxygenic bacteria and cyanobacteria or eukaryotic green algae. For photobiological H₂ production cyanobacteria are among the ideal candidates since they: a) are capable of H2 evolution, and b) have simple nutritional requirements - they can grow in air (N₂ and CO₂), water and mineral salts, with light as the only energy source.

As this project started, a vision and a set of overall goals were established. These postulated that improved H₂ production over a long period demanded: 1) selection of strains taking in consideration their specific hydrogen metabolism, 2) genetic modification in order to improve the H₂ evolution, and 3) cultivation conditions in bioreactors should be exmined and improved. Within these goals, three main research objectives were set: 1) update and document the use of cyanobacteria for hydrogen production, 2) create tools to improve molecular biology work at the transcription analysis level, and 3) study cell division in cyanobacteria.

This work resulted in: 1) the publication of a review on hydrogen evolution by cyanobacteria, 2) the development of tools to assist understanding of transcription, and 3) the start of a new fundamental research approach to ultimately improve the yield of H₂ evolution by cyanobacteria.