Nature's Powerhouse

The energy mix of society has always varied with time and geography. Today, the demand for abundant energy to sustain a new economy aligns with improved living standards. Photosynthesis offers a model for converting solar energy into fuel by using light to extract electrons from water. Photobiological hydrogen production presents a valuable alternative to chemical and electrochemical technologies, generating renewable fuel from light and water with low to net-zero carbon emissions. This method utilizes the photosynthetic properties of oxygenic and non-oxygenic microorganisms, regulated by hydrogenase and nitrogenase enzymes. Both photolytic and photo-fermentative routes have common opportunities and challenges. This chapter focuses on overcoming basic challenges in enzymatic activity and metabolic pathways, along with strain development strategies for effective substrate and light conversion efficiencies in biohydrogen production. Additionally, it covers the design, modeling, and simulation of photobioreactors, addressing major challenges that hinder the scaling up of this technology.