Y. Allahverdiyeva*, E. M. Aro, S. N. Kosourov

Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Corresponding author email: allahve@utu. fi

It is well known that the fossil energy resources are limited. Despite the fact that millions of years of photo­synthesis were required to ensure the fossil fuel forma­tion and accumulation, the current consumption of fossil fuels occurs at a rapid rate. Such utilization of fos­sil fuels creates extreme damage to the environment, increasing the CO2 level in atmosphere and leading to global warming and pollution on the Earth. Future sce­narios predict an increase in CO2 partial pressure in the atmosphere from the current levels of approximately 380, to about 750 and up to 1000 patm until the end of this century (Raupach et al., 2007).

ronmentally friendly and renewable energy sources. An efficient strategy for production of bioenergy would employ photosynthetic microorganisms, which are collectively, a significant player in the global carbon cycle. Cyanobacteria and green algae have inherited mechanisms for production of hydrogen, which pos­sesses all properties of a clean and efficient energy carrier. Although the natural production of hydrogen by these microorganisms is negligible at the current state, there is a huge potential for engineering and synthetic biology advances of cyanobacteria and green algae toward commercially profitable production of hydrogen and other biofuels.

Bioenergy Research: Advances and Applications http://dx. doi. org/10.1016/B978-0-444-59561-4.00021-8