Algae: A Renewable Carbon-Neutral Energy Source

Renewable Energy from Algae

With the reality of climate change pushing society to consider alternatives to fossil fuels, a potential new source of renewable energy has appeared in a somewhat unusual form: algae. A highly diverse group of organisms, algae are also photosynthetic, meaning they use sunlight, water, and carbon to produce oxygen and energy. If scientists are somehow able to exploit that process, that could potentially mean not only a new source of renewable energy, but also one that removes carbon dioxide while doing so. Researchers from the Optical-Bio Microsystems Lab at Concordia University have recently achieved this with a micro photosynthetic power cell (PSC) that generates electricity by capturing electrons released during photosynthesis.

Carbon-Neutral and Carbon-Negative Power Source

The discovery of a clean power source has been a scientific goal for decades, and researchers have now achieved a carbon-negative power source using algae. By suspending algae in a solution within an anode and a cathode chamber separated by a proton exchange membrane, scientists were able to extract energy from the plant while creating a carbon-negative technology. The process hijacks photosynthesis to turn carbon dioxide into food, and the power source creates only water as a byproduct, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process.

Potential for Future Energy Solutions

The renewable power source using algae has the potential to be scaled up to power entire cities, offering a carbon-negative solution to reduce carbon emissions significantly. The process captures electrons released during photosynthesis and harnesses them to create electricity, with a maximum possible terminal voltage of 1.0V from a single micro PSC. While scaling up for city-wide use presents challenges, researchers believe that with further research and development, entire cities may benefit from this clean energy source.

Environmental and Sustainability Benefits

Using algae for renewable energy production offers significant environmental and sustainability benefits. The process is a clean energy source that does not emit carbon, making it a negative carbon emission technology. Additionally, the method does not require direct sunlight to work effectively, making it suitable for regions like Britain. Furthermore, the use of algae is considered safer and more sustainable than other existing renewable energy production processes, as it does not involve hazardous gases or microfibers and offers easy decomposability and low manufacturing costs.