A bio-battery that could be used to store excess renewable energy

Researchers at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt, investigated a species of bacteria that inhabits the deep ocean. To gain the energy it requires, this organism carries an enzyme that catalyzes the rapid conversion of H2 and CO2 into formic acid. Through genetic engineering, the researchers have altered its metabolism to prevent this additional reaction, and even reverse the initial reaction entirely: converting formic acid back into CO2 and hydrogen fuel. These bacteria didn’t require extreme conditions to survive, steadily converting the chemicals at temperatures of just 30° C  and at regular atmospheric pressure. Using a bioreactor, the researchers fed their modified bacteria with hydrogen gas for eight hours during the day. This simulated the length of time where hydrogen gas could be realistically produced using the energy harvested by solar panels during the south German summertime. For the remaining 16 hours, they cut off the reactor’s supply of hydrogen, causing any formic acid produced during the day to re-oxidize, and release the hydrogen gas initially consumed by the bacteria. At the same time, the CO2 released from the bioreactor could be re-captured, ready for use in the next storage cycle. 



 

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