Researchers at the University of Oxford have made significant progress in developing a cost-effective and zero-carbon method of producing green hydrogen, a crucial step towards achieving net-zero emissions. The team used a synthetic biology approach to engineer a species of bacteria, Shewanella oneidensis, to become a “hydrogen nanoreactor” that splits water and produces hydrogen using sunlight. This breakthrough overcomes a critical challenge in green hydrogen production, which currently relies on expensive metals. The engineered bacteria can concentrate electrons, protons, and hydrogenase enzymes in a specific space, allowing for efficient hydrogen production. The system can be scaled up to produce “artificial leaves” that can be exposed to sunlight to produce hydrogen. This advance has the potential to revolutionize the production of green hydrogen, which could play a key role in decarbonizing industries such as aviation and shipping. The researchers believe that their biocatalyst can improve long-term economic viability and provide a sustainable source of hydrogen fuels.
A game-changing discovery: genetic modification of bacteria to create microscopic factories for green energy production.
