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ENERGIX-Stort program energi

Microbial BioFuel Factories – Sustainable biofuel for the future

Alternative title: Mikrober som biodrivstoff-fabrikker – Bærekraftig biodrivstoff for fremtiden

Awarded: NOK 5.8 mill.

Project Number:

337143

Project Period:

2022 - 2025

Funding received from:

Organisation:

Biofuel has great potential as an alternative to fossil fuel, to help reduce climate change and global warming. The currently available 1st and 2nd generation biofuels cannot be produced efficiently or sustainably. Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative technology that supports the efficient, sustainable production of next-generation biofuels; third-generation fuels that do not compete with food. The MicroFactories project takes a unified and innovative approach to develop an efficient technology for the sustainable production of butanol in the form of GF-1 from carbon-rich seaweed waste and other green waste. The aim of the project is to utilize genetically modified microbes for efficient, sustainable production of GF-1 from the rich Norwegian seaweed waste and other green waste. MicroFactories will generate and test an infinitely scalable process with proprietary technology, optimized for yield, productivity and efficiency. We use a combination of selected engineered bacterial strains and new synergistic multispecies bacterial communities to produce GF-1. To achieve this goal, genetically engineered bacteria are selected that have properties that improve the GF-1 production efficiency, yield and capacity. The MicroFactories project team includes a next-generation start-up company and expert partners with complementary strengths, who will engage a network of support partners, stakeholders and product end users to realize the new biofuel and promote development towards a sustainable energy future for Norway and the world. Collectively, the strengths of MicroFactories partners include strong industrial background, experience and success in cultivating and manipulating bacteria, seaweed processing, and dominance in the CleanTech/GreenTech energy industrial space. The MicroFactories technology will support the production of GF-1 for use as fuel in maritime vehicles and engines in general, achieving sustainable energy production in a circular economy manner.

Biofuels show great potential as clean fossil fuel alternatives, whose use will help reducing climate change and global warming. Currently available 1st and 2nd generation biofuels cannot be produced efficiently or sustainably. Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative technology that supports efficient, sustainable production of next-generation biofuels. The MicroFactories Project proposes a unified and innovative approach for developing an efficient technology for the sustainable production of butanol in the form of GF-1 from carbon-rich seaweed waste. The goal of the MicroFactories project is to exploit genetically modified microbes for efficient, sustainable production of butanol from the abundant Norwegian seaweed waste. MicroFactories will generate and test an infinitely-scaleable process technology, optimized for yield, productivity, and efficiency, that uses a single engineered bacterial species or novel synergistic multispecies bacterial communities to produce butanol. To attain this goal, genetically engineered bacteria are selected for properties that improve butanol production efficiency, yield and capacity. The MicroFactories Project Team includes a next-generation Company and expert Partners with complementary strengths, who will leverage a network of supporting partners, stakeholders and end users to advance progress towards a sustainable energy future for Norway and the world. Collectively, the strengths of MicroFactories partners include strong industrial background, experience and success in cultivating and manipulating fastidious bacteria, expertise in seaweed processing, and dominance in the CleanTech/GreenTech energy industrial space. The MicroFactories technology will support the production of butanol for use as fuel in maritime vehicles, automobiles, and eventually airplanes, achieving sustainable energy production in a circular economy manner.

Funding scheme:

ENERGIX-Stort program energi