On 1 November, Wageningen researchers will launch a major project (SUN-PERFORM) to develop sustainable fuels made from oil produced by algae. The researchers will use synthetic biology and nanotechnology to enhance the algae's ability to capture sunlight more efficiently for photosynthesis. The project has received €4 million in funding from Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation funding programme, of which €1.5 million is allocated to Wageningen University & Research (WUR).

Algae naturally produce oil within their cells, which can be converted into fuel. Researchers initially explored such biofuels in the early 2000s; however, as algae require large amounts of light and additional nutrients to grow, the process was too energy-intensive and costly. Wageningen scientists are now working on a new form of fuel using algae that obtain their energy mainly from sunlight. In addition, they want to harvest the sunlight more efficiently. The sustainable fuel that results from this is called solar fuel and is very suitable for shipping and aviation, since these sectors cannot easily switch to electricity, like land-based vehicles.

Quantum dots
To make algae work more efficiently to produce solar fuel, researchers are first attempting to increase the amount of light available to them. Sunlight spans a broad spectrum of colours, from red to green and ultraviolet (UV). “Algae, however, primarily use red light for photosynthesis and their cellular processes,” explains Sarah D’Adamo, project leader and Associate Professor of Bio Process Engineering. Other colours, including blue and UV light, are therefore not or hardly used. A shame, according to the Wageningen researchers. In this project, they plan to utilise nanotechnology to convert part of this unused light into red light, which algae can use.
To achieve this, the scientists use a special transparent film containing so-called quantum dots, which convert part of the blue and UV light into red light that algae can use. They stick this foil on the glass reaction vessels in which algae grow. “You can compare it to a red plastic,” D’Adamo illustrates. “If you stick that to a window, it acts as a filter, allowing only red light to pass through.” In reality, quantum dots in the specialised film do not function as filters but actively adjust light particles (photons). With this technology, the film makes more light available to the algae, enhancing their energy uptake.

Biological battery
If the algae have more light at their disposal, they should be able to use it rather than let it go to waste. To make sure they can, biologists are attempting to incorporate a type of biological battery in the algae, temporarily storing solar energy. “This is a biological protein where the algae store phosphate groups to generate energy molecules.” The researchers are also adding a new molecular system that allows algae to absorb more carbon dioxide (CO₂) and grow more efficiently. For this part of the research, the bioprocess technologists collaborate with Wageningen microbiologist Nico Claassens. Finally, the researchers are reprogramming the algae’s DNA to stimulate higher oil production than usual. Together, these innovations should significantly improve the growth and oil production of the algae.

D’Adamo is excited about the project’s launch. “Improving photosynthesis has long been a dream of biologists,” she says. “What makes this research unique is that we are combining synthetic biology with nanotechnology, pushing the boundaries of nature. It is a huge challenge, and perhaps we will not succeed in four years, but the consortium has strong expertise, and we will certainly give it our best shot.” Over the next four years, two PhD candidates and a postdoc will work on the project at WUR and several more with the other partners.

Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest research and innovation funding programme. Until 2027, €93.5 billion will be available for small- and large-scale projects, particularly those addressing climate change and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The European Commission aims to stimulate science and innovation in Europe by encouraging collaboration between academia and industry to find solutions for societal challenges. The SUN-PERFORM project received a total of €4 million in funding, of which €1.5 million is allocated to WUR.

Consortium
In the SUN-PERFORM project, WUR collaborates with the following partners:
- Universitaet Bielefeld
- Politecnico Di Torino
- In Srl Impresa Sociale
- University of Amsterdam
- Solarfoil B.V.
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Forderung Der Wissenschaften Ev