Hydrogen production. Green algae as a source of energy

Plant Physiol. 2001 Nov;127(3):740-8.

Abstract

Hydrogen gas is thought to be the ideal fuel for a world in which air pollution has been alleviated, global warming has been arrested, and the environment has been protected in an economically sustainable manner. Hydrogen and electricity could team to provide attractive options in transportation and power generation. Interconversion between these two forms of energy suggests on-site utilization of hydrogen to generate electricity, with the electrical power grid serving in energy transportation, distribution utilization, and hydrogen regeneration as needed. A challenging problem in establishing H(2) as a source of energy for the future is the renewable and environmentally friendly generation of large quantities of H(2) gas. Thus, processes that are presently conceptual in nature, or at a developmental stage in the laboratory, need to be encouraged, tested for feasibility, and otherwise applied toward commercialization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bioelectric Energy Sources
  • Chlorophyta / physiology*
  • Chloroplasts / enzymology
  • Chloroplasts / physiology
  • Electricity
  • Energy-Generating Resources
  • Hydrogen / metabolism*
  • Hydrogenase / metabolism
  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins / metabolism
  • Light
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Photosynthesis / physiology
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Water / metabolism

Substances

  • Iron-Sulfur Proteins
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Water
  • Hydrogen
  • iron hydrogenase
  • Hydrogenase
  • Oxygen