One of the most ancient groups of organism, the cyanobacteria are leading the way in alternative energy sources, via photosynthesis. It could be possible to tweak the photosynthetic reactions of cyanobacteria to produce fuels we want such as hydrogen, alcohols or even hydrocarbons; to produce a clean energy for the future. By using dedicated systems, whether based on cyanobacteria, plants, or artificial components it is capable of reaching 10% efficiency of solar energy conversion. This would enable enough energy and fuel to be produced for a large part of the planet's needs without causing significant loss of space for food production.
A future aim therefore is to build an artificial leaf-like system comprised of self-assembling nanodevices that are capable of regenerating themselves – just as in real plants or cyanobacteria. "Fundamental breakthroughs in these directions are expected on a time scale of 10 to 20 years and are recognized by the international science community as major milestones on the road to a renewable fuel," said Aro.
Original text http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825092353.htm
