NREL Creates New Pathways for Producing Biofuels and Acids from Cyanobacteria (Fact Sheet)

Cyanobacteria use photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into glycogen, a carbohydrate that is stored in the cells as an energy source. However, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have discovered that this photosynthesis can be redirected to produce lipids and valuable organic acids. The research could yield a new source of biofuels, because the lipids canpotentially be extracted from the bacteria and converted into biodiesel.