1. H 2 Production from Solar Energy using Algae Technology Stig A. Borgvang and Kari Skjånes Bioforsk

2. A Joint Indo-Norwegian-Swedish Scientific Research Collaboration Project Facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Delhi, Funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3. Bioforsk - the Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research Biohydrogen Production Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur Fotomol - the Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science at the Ångström Laboratories, Uppsala University,

5. H 2 Production by algae Conceptual processes in nature Developmental stage in the laboratory Tested for feasibility Applied towards commercialisation

6. Target groups Relevant research communities throughout the world Commercial interests linked to i.a. the pharmaceutical and health food industries Relevant authorities at all levels You and Me

7. Establish a Scientific and Technological Platform for the Development of new, Commercially Competitive and Environmentally friendly H 2 Production Systems by converting Solar Energy to H 2 using Photosynthesis in Algae, combined with Capture of CO 2 from Flue Gas and Production of high Value Products. Project goals

8. To Reach the Goals Produce H 2 from solar energy using cultures grown on CO 2 from flue gas Optimise the H 2 production from green algae and cyanobacteria by improved insight into function, characteristics and regulation of hydrogenases

9. To Reach the Goals Examine the remaining biomass for content of high valuable components, and for use as health food, aquaculture/animal feed and fertiliser Produce at least two high impact research publications/year

12. Efficiency Economical and energetical efficiency of the process H 2 production from algal cultures grown on different carbon sources H 2 production from algae cultivated using flue gas from industry as a CO 2 source. Awareness –Public awareness- political awareness Photobioreactors for H 2 production: Design and development of photobioreactors optimised for H 2 production Challenges

13. Hydrogenases There are still many unknowns regarding functions, characteristics and regulation of hydrogenases, in addition to the enzyme’s role in the energy metabolism of the cell Use of algal biomass Production of valuable components from stress reactions under H 2 production Viability Bridging of the gap between research and commercial interests in order to make the whole process economically viable. Challenges

16. Achievements Bioreactors H 2 production mechanisms – DNA/ RNA H 2 production combined with use of algal biomass Publishing of results

17. Bioreactors 8 different types of photobioreactors have been constructed at IIT Kharagpur All bioreactors have been tested for efficiency regarding CO 2 capture and H 2 production. Selected bioreactors to be demonstrated at the Norwegian pavillion at DIREC 2010 Achievements

18. C. N. Dasgupta, J. Gilbert, P. Lindblad, T. Heidorn, S.A..Borgvang, K. Skjånes and D. Das. 2010, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 35: 10218-10238

19. DNA-RNA side of the H 2 production in green algae and cyanobacteria: New discoveries in mechanisms behind H 2 production opens up for increased efficiency of the project: transcriptional regulation of Hox-hydrogenase genes in the cyanobacteria Synechocystis. introduction of foreign hydrogenase into bacteria three distinct HydA hydrogenase genes in the green algae Chlamydomonas noctigama Achievements

20. Basics:HydA in C.noctigama: Hox in Synechocystis: Oliveira, P. and Lindblad, P. 2009. Dalton Trans. 45: 9990-9996 Skjånes, K., Pinto, F. L. and Lindblad, P. 2010, Int.J. Hydrogen 35: 1074-1088

21. Achievements H 2 production in combination with use of algal biomass Map of the high number of species able to produce H 2 (only a handful have been previously explored). Map of the high number of species able to produce high amounts of secondary metabolites with high economic potential, potential to combine with H 2 production.

22. 1.Transcriptional Regulation of the Cyanobacterial Bidirectional Hox-hydrogenase. Oliveira, P. and Lindblad, P. 2009. Dalton Transactions 45: 9990-9996 2.Evidence for transcription of three genes with characteristics of hydrogenases in the green alga Chlamydomonas noctigama. Skjånes, K., Pinto, F. L. and Lindblad, P. 2010, International Journal of Hydrogen 35: 1074-1088. 3.Recent trends on the development of photo-biological processes and photobioreactors for the improvement of hydrogen production. C. N. Dasgupta, J. Gilbert, P. Lindblad, T. Heidorn, S.A..Borgvang, K. Skjånes and D. Das. 2010, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 35: 10218-10238. 4.Develpment of suitable photobioreactors for CO 2 sequestration addressing glabal warming using green algae and cyanobacteria. Kumar, K., Heidorn, T., Lindblad P., Das, D. 2010, Manuscript submitted. 5.Analysis of the potential for green microalgae to produce hydrogen, pharmaceuticals and other high value products in a combined process, K. Skjånes, P. Lindblad, Manuscript to be submitted by end of 2010. + multiple oral and poster presentations at international conferences Achievements

23. Future work-Project Further testing and development of prototype bioreactors for H 2 production Optimisation of H 2 production in selected species by physio-chemical parameters H 2 production from algae cultured on different C-sources Expression of hydrogenase genes from green algae under different conditions

24. Future work: Project Introduction of foreign hydrogenase into cyanobacteria Maturation and regulation of hydrogenase from cyanobacteria Expression of secondary metabolites from hydrogen producing algae under selected stress conditions

27. Internationalisation: Joint efforts