Light-driven biocatalytic cell factories

August 10th, 2022

R&D Focus Areas:
Biological hydrogen production

Lead Organisation:
University of Queensland

Partners:
University of Bielefeld, Germany

Status:
Active

Start date:
March 2022

Completion date:
March 2025

Key contacts:
Professor Benjamin Hankamer (Chief Investigator) – b.hankamer@imb.uq.edu.au
Professor Gerhard Schenk (Chief Investigator)
Professor Olaf Kruse (Partner Investigator)

Funding:
Australian Research Council

Project total cost:
AUD$470,271 cash contribution

Project summary description:
This project aims to develop single-cell algae optimised for high-efficiency green hydrogen production from cheap, sustainable resources – sunlight and water. The success of this project would be a game changer for industry by dramatically improving light to fuel conversion efficiencies. The expected high-efficiency cells would be a valuable resource for a wide range of other light-driven advanced bio-manufacture applications from high-value biopharmaceuticals (e.g. <10 Hectare scale) through to renewable fuels (e.g. 10-1000 Hectare regional scale). The benefits would include advanced green chemical and biochemical manufacturing, diversified sources for green hydrogen production, and supporting regional development,

Higher degree studies supported:
One PhD student is supported

Reviewed: July 2024