How biotechnology makes energy storage safer

Future of hydrogen storage How biotechnology makes energy storage safer

2025-02-24 By Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Michael Richter | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

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For a successful energy transition, the use of hydrogen may be a decisive factor. There are various approaches to ensure safe transport, one of which is conversion into formic acid. Festo's BionicHydrogenBattery pursues exactly this approach and automates it with the help of bionics.

The BionicHydrogenBattery enables the storage and transport of hydrogen using biotechnology.(Image: Festo SE & Co. KG) — The BionicHydrogenBattery enables the storage and transport of hydrogen using biotechnology.
(Image: Festo SE & Co. KG)

The technology involves a microbial process that operates thanks to the bacterium T. kivui. This microorganism was discovered in the depths of Africa's Lake Kivu. It possesses a special enzyme that converts hydrogen and carbon dioxide into formic acid. This process occurs under moderate conditions. The bacteria operate at approximately 149°F and a pressure of only 1.5 bar (21.8 psi). The chemical bond in formic acid offers a significantly safer alternative compared to other storage methods. Storing hydrogen under high pressure or in cryogenic form not only requires a lot of energy but can also cause substantial damages if something does not function properly.

When the stored hydrogen is needed, a reverse process converts the formic acid back into hydrogen and CO₂. The generated hydrogen can be used immediately for fuel cells or other applications. The entire process control is carried out by an automated system.

Advantages and applications

Compared to conventional hydrogen storage technologies, the BionicHydrogenBattery offers several decisive advantages. On one hand, storage in the form of formic acid significantly reduces the risk of explosion. Additionally, the conversion process is efficient and takes place under relatively mild conditions. Furthermore, the transport of formic acid is possible in existing infrastructures without the need for high-pressure tanks or very low temperatures.

Difficulties and limitations

Despite the promising advantages, there are challenges that hinder a broad market introduction. Nevertheless, the repeated conversion of hydrogen into formic acid and vice versa leads to energy losses that affect the overall efficiency of the system. Additionally, it must be ensured that the process environment is stable for prolonged use of T. kivui. The transfer of the technology from laboratory conditions to industrial scales also requires further research and development efforts.

Conclusion

The energy transition becomes easier with hydrogen. Therefore, a secure and low-loss conversion of hydrogen is an enormously important technology to achieve climate goals. Since CO₂ is bound during the conversion of hydrogen into formic acid and released in the reverse process, the process must allow intermediate storage to prevent release. However, these problems only become apparent on a large scale. For now, it is important to continue optimizing the implementation so that hydrogen can be safely stored and transported in the future. (mr)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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