The hydrogen gas bio-based economy and the production of renewable building block chemicals, food and energy

Abstract

The carrying capacity of the planet is being exceeded, and there is an urgent need to bring forward revolutionary approaches, particularly in terms of energy supply, carbon emissions and nitrogen inputs into the biosphere. Hydrogen gas, generated by means of renewable energy through water electrolysis, can be a platform molecule to drive the future bioeconomy and electrification in the 21 st century. The potential to use hydrogen gas in microbial metabolic processes is highly versatile, and this opens a broad range of opportunities for novel biotechnological developments and applications. A first approach concerns the central role of hydrogen gas in the production of bio-based building block chemicals using the methane route, thus, bypassing the inherent low economic value of methane towards higher-value products. Second, hydrogen gas can serve as a key carbonneutral source to produce third-generation proteins, i.e. microbial protein for food applications, whilst simultaneously enabling carbon capture and nutrient recovery, directly at their point of emission. Combining both approaches to deal with the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources maximises the ability for efficient use of renewable resources.

Potential of microbial protein from hydrogen for preventing mass starvation in catastrophic scenarios

“…In-situ production of electricity is technically feasible, but beyond the scope of this analysis. Renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity, are often discussed in literature for the sustainable production of hydrogen for SCP ( De Vrieze et al., 2020 ; Matassa et al., 2015a ; Pikaar et al., 2018 ; Sefton, 2018 ; Sillman et al., 2019 ; Vainikka, 2018 ), but would not be viable in a sun-blocking catastrophe scenario. PV would, however, be useful for SCP production for GCRs that cut off agricultural output while the sun remained unblocked (e.g.…”

Biological CO2 fixation in up-flow reactors via exogenous H2 addition

“…Acetogenic CO2/H2 fermentation is lately gaining increased attention. Acetate can be produced as sole molecule containing trace by-products which makes the economic feasibility of its biological production route promising (De Vrieze et al, 2019). Hence, acetate production can be an alternative to biomethanation, offering flexibility to the gas fermentation system.…”

“…Therefore, biological biogas upgrading can be considered as CO2 capturing and recycling technology. In addition, H2 derived from inexpensive renewable electricity in periods with intense wind peak loads for wind mills and sunny days for photovoltaics ensures no energy wasting, while it maintains a stable electricity grid and improves sustainability (Alfaro et al, 2018;De Vrieze et al, 2019;Strübing et al, 2018). Hence, it can be considered as energy storage technology.…”

Beyond Sugar and Ethanol Production: Value Generation Opportunities Through Sugarcane Residues

“…As a flexible energy carrier, H 2 can be used directly as fuel for mobility or in a variety of processes to produce gaseous (e.g., CH 4 and NH 3 ) and liquid fuels (e.g., methanol and dimethyl ether), as building block molecule for bio-based chemical production (e.g., carboxylic acids and alcohols), or even for microbial protein production (e.g., yeast) (De Vrieze et al, 2020). This concept of electricity-based hydrogen production with subsequent transformation into other products is therefore frequently referred to as power-to-x (PtX).…”