Until now, the process for extracting hydrogen involved the electrolysis of water, which is an expensive procedure using vast amounts of energy. Recently scientists from UC Berkeley and the Department of Energy have made a breakthrough that will make possible the commercial production of hydrogen gas. They discovered that they could cause algae to produce hydrogen gas by imposing nutrient stress on the algae. First they grow algae, then `fatten' it under normal photosynthetic conditions. Then they withhold sulfur, which is critical for the completion of normal photosynthesis. In the absence of sulfur the algae stops emitting oxygen and storing energy as carbohydrates, protein and fats. Instead the algae cells began using "an alternative metabolic pathway" due to the absence of oxygen. The plant begins using the energy of sunlight to produce hydrogen gas instead of oxygen. The algae would eventually die if the nutrient stress were maintained for more than a few days. They fatten it again with sulfur and sunlight, which allows for repetition of the process and continued harvesting of hydrogen gas.
At this point production performance still needs improving. Eventually this process will be used for the commercial production of huge quantities of hydrogen gas in tanks, ponds, lakes and possibly the open ocean.
This discovery, like a paradigm shift, can forever change the direction of energy production. No more will the power brokers be able to justify the subsidizing of their earth warming, polluting, resource sucking, non-renewable coal, hydrocarbon and nuclear power. There will be a clean, cheap and inexhaustible supply of power for all people. It is the dawn of new age of hope.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2000
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