Microbial fuel development framework using synthetic biology for next generation drop-in renewable fuel production

The overall objective of this project is to develop a ground-breaking technology for innovative high-performance and cost-effective renewable drop-in fuel production process using synthetic biology for applications in conventional and future low-carbon internal combustion engines and power generation systems. MicroFuelPro offers a unique Waste-to-Wheel approach via a biosynthetic route. Biogenic residues and waste will be processed using micro-organisms to produce “hydrocarbons-alike” fuel molecules that can be used as “drop-in” fuels. These pathways all naturally exist in many different micro-organisms and can be genetically manipulated or transported into a simple host to increase an organism’s biosynthesis capacity for a specific fuel product. Applying genetic engineering is essential, as this will help moving forward using a higher yield of clean renewable energy feedstock, securing energy sustainability and reducing greenhouse and toxic gas emissions. The biochemical discovery and understanding of these pathways will facilitate our ability to produce a suite of renewable hydrocarbons to be used as drop-in fuels. An ecological and economic evaluation will be conducted for an integral view of the process and feedstock utilized. The project is developed from basic principles of biosynthetic fuel pathways (TRL 1-2) to experimental proof of concept (TRL 3) and to technology validated in relevant lab environment (TRL 4).