Cyanobacterial Biofuel: A Platform for Green Energy

Abstract

Cyanobacteria have great potential as a platform for biofuel production because of their fast growth, ability to fix CO2 gas, and genetic tractability. They also preserve the sustainability of an ecosystem without harming the environment. High-performance biofuels made from cyanobacteria can be utilized as a base for the production of green energy. Although a lot of studies have been conducted where plants and crops are used as the source of energy, cyanobacteria have been reported to have a more efficient photosynthetic process strongly responsible for increased production with limited land input along with affordable cost. The production of cyanobacteria-based biofuels can be accelerated through genetic engineering or genomics research, which may help to meet the global demand for these fuels on a large scale. Cyanobacterial strains that have undergone genetic modifications have been developed as part of a green recovery approach to transform membrane lipids into fatty acids to produce cheap and eco-friendly green energy. Cyanobacteria also produce different biofuels such as butanol, ethanol and isoprene. The four different generations of biofuel production to meet the energy requirement have been discussed in this review. This review presents a comprehensive strategy for the commercial viability of green energy production utilizing cyanobacteria to achieve a price for biofuels that can compete with the present or future market.