White biotechnology for syntheses of hydrogen: Development of procedural foundations for acquisition of biogenic hydrogen with novel photo-bio-reactors by an interdisciplinary junior research group
Table of contents
On the 1st of August 2012, the Technische Universität (TU) Dresden established the interdisciplinary junior research group “Biogenic Hydrogen”. The aim of the research is to develop a novel technique for the production of hydrogen by using bacterium and algae. The conversion of hydrogen into energy is CO2-neutral and thus plays a major role in the future energy-supply mix. The project is sponsored with € 1.7 million by the European Social Fond (ESF). The engineering sciences-oriented research for the technology development in this specific research field is unique.
Hydrogen (H2) can be seen as an universal carrier of energy, which emits pure water (H2O) after combustion with oxygen (O2) - but no climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2).
Electricity, converted in the fuel cells of electro mobile vehicles, or heat could be produced in more climate-friendly ways – if the hydrogen is extracted from regenerative sources. However, until now it has been mainly taken from fossil fuels.
Within the TU-project “Biogenic Hydrogen,” the scientists of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering will research a biotechnical procedure to produce hydrogen out of natural resources. According to Prof. Thomas Bley (Prof. of Biotechnology), “the current challenge is to develop a technological process that converts solar energy into “clean” fuel by using biocatalysts. If we can achieve this technologically, biogenic hydrogen will play an important role within the energy-concept of the federal government”.
Analysis of hurdles
Biogenic hydrogen plays a major role within the energy-mix of the future. Nevertheless, a climate-friendly production method is still missing. Within the development and application of a climate-friendly production of hydrogen from regenerative sources, hurdles occur that need to be identified and overcome.
Ecological and economic assessment
Using life cycle assessment, the profitability as well as environmental impacts for the production of biogenic hydrogen will be compared to other kinds of bio-energy, further types of renewable energies, and energy from fossil fuels. Therefore, the manufacturing process is modelled and evaluated by classical instruments of business studies as well as the performance of an environmental performance analysis. The aim is to identify important control variables for an ecological and economic optimisation.
Team Leadership:
Dr. Jost Weber (Projektleiter), Professur für Bioverfahrenstechnik, Institut für Lebensmittel- und Bioverfahrenstechnik
Project Leadership
Prof. Dr. Thomas Bley, Professor of Biotechnology, Institute for Food Science and Biotechnology
Subproject Leadership
Researchers
Dipl.-Kffr. Jana Herrmann
Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Georg Bienert
Cooperation
Technische Universität Dresden (TUD)
Chair of Bioprocess Engineering
Professorship of Chemical Engineering and Plant Design
Professorship of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy Technique
Chair of Material Science and Nanotechnology
Chair of Environmental Management and Accounting
Chair of Physical Chemistry, Measuring and Sensor Technology
Term
08/2012 – 12/2014
Financing
European Social Fond (ESF)
Publication
Weber, J.; Krujatz, F.; Hilpmann, G.; Grützner, S.; Herrmann, J.; Thierfelder, S.; Bienert, G.; Illing, R.; Helbig, K.; Hurtado, A.; Cuniberti, G.; Mertig, M.; Lange, R.; Günther, E.; Opitz, J.; Lippmann, W.; Bley, T.; & Haufe, N. 2014, Biotechnological hydrogen production by photosynthesis. Engineering in Life Sciences.
Presentation
Rotzek, J.N. 2014. Ökobilanzierung von biogenem Wasserstoff-Herausforderungen im Forschungsprozess. Ökobilanzwerkstatt 2014, September 8th-10th, Dresden, Germany.