Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University have shown that green hydrogen can be produced from microalgae continuously and on a larger scale, while maintaining the biomass as a high-quality raw material for food, feed, and nutritional supplements.
New research by Tel Aviv University and Ben-Gurion University presents a significant breakthrough in the field of renewable energy: the production of green hydrogen using microalgae, on an industrial scale, while maintaining biomass as a high-quality raw material for food and industry.
The study was led by Dr. Tamar Elman and Prof. Yiftach Yaakovi. From the School of Plant Sciences and Food Security in the George Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with Dr. Shabtai Isaac from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The study was published in the prestigious scientific journal International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
Produce hydrogen without harming cells
In the study, the researchers focused on a unique strain of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which is capable of producing hydrogen through a photobiological process – that is, using solar energy – without the need for extreme starvation conditions. Until now, most methods of producing hydrogen from algae have relied on deliberate damage to the cells, which has prevented practical use of the biomass after the process is complete. The current study has shown that hydrogen can be produced continuously for several days, without damaging the integrity of the cells.
By redesigning photobioreactors – illuminated algae growth systems – the researchers were able to achieve a production rate six times higher than previous laboratory experiments. Production is measured in liters, rather than theoretical estimates, which brings the technology closer to an application stage.
Prof. Yaakovi: "One of the key findings of the study concerns the biomass remaining after hydrogen production. Nutritional tests showed that algae contain about 47% protein, with a balanced profile of amino acids, essential fatty acids, and antioxidant components such as lutein and beta-carotene. The meaning: Algae can be utilized as an economically valuable product in the fields of food, feed, and nutritional supplements - thereby offsetting a significant portion of the costs of hydrogen production."
Competitive level in the green energy market
In addition, the researchers conducted an economic analysis based on data from an active commercial algae cultivation facility in Israel. It is estimated that under current conditions, the cost of hydrogen production per kilogram is very high. With future improvements in algae density and production rate, the cost could drop to $2–3 per kilogram – a level considered competitive in the green energy market.
In conclusion, the researchers emphasize that the technology is not intended to replace large-scale industrial hydrogen production, but rather to be integrated into existing algae facilities, as a complementary solution for producing clean energy alongside sustainable protein. In doing so, the study proposes a new model that connects renewable energy, advanced agriculture, and the circular economy – areas in which Israel has a clear comparative advantage.
"Integrating green hydrogen production into existing algae cultivation facilities opens the door to a new approach to renewable energy production – one that does not compete with food production but integrates with it," concludes Prof. Yaakovi. "Biomass is always more valuable than hydrogen itself, but this very fact makes it possible to turn hydrogen into a real and economic by-product. The model presented in the study places Israel at the forefront of global research in the field of biological hydrogen, and demonstrates how scientific innovation can become an applied solution with both environmental and economic value. In light of this, the project is currently in the commercialization and fundraising stages for its commercialization."
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