Application of Algae for Hydrogen Generation and Utilization

Abstract

Hydrogen is a promising future fuel with high energy content for both heat and electrical energy without emission of any hazardous gases such as carbon dioxide or ozone-harming substances. Bio-hydrogen driven from microalgae has recently gained considerable attention. As it is more sustainable than other sources, further developments in such systems are still in their early stages and require improving efficiency and achieving a real-world application on a large scale. This chapter focuses on assessing the potential of microalgae applied sciences for the industrial manufacturing of hydrogen from algae using solar energy. It summarizes the principle key of hydrogen production, the viable and theoretical limits of microalga hydrogen manufacturing systems, and the rising techniques to engineer next-generation structures and how these fitting into a developing hydrogen economy. In addition, it discusses the utilization of a solar collector system for long-range storage of thermal solar energy in dark conditions or winter.