Can engineering biology help fight climate change?

Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable sources such as new and used vegetable oils, animal fats and plant biomass. They have been used since ancient civilizations burned them in lamps. Fossil fuels including petrol are now used more widely, but the biofuel market is still worth $120 billion today.

They are gaining further traction now in the search for cleaner energy and as fuels in transportation, particularly in "hard-to-abate" sectors like aviation, shipping, and long-haul freight trucking. Nearly 200 years after the Stephenson's coke-powered, steam locomotive, Rocket debuted, for example, the first fully biofuel-powered passenger trains, running on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), have hit the rails in the UK. While biofuel is more expensive, it is seen as a decarbonization alternative to diesel because it produces up to 90% less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As the global community intensifies efforts to combat climate change, new approaches are pushing the envelope of innovation in biofuels and other carbon reduction technologies. One such approach is the application of engineering biology.

Engineering biology: A new frontier

Engineering biology involves designing and constructing new biological parts, devices, and systems, or redesigning existing natural biological systems for useful purposes. Applying this technique to biofuel production could potentially enhance their effectiveness and sustainability by providing a "drop-in", low-carbon solution for existing vehicles. This would remove the need for costly upgrades or to replace entire fleets with electric, hybrid, or hydrogen-powered vehicles that don't yet provide the necessary power benefits.

For example, synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could be made from agricultural waste feedstock, allowing more space to be devoted to food crops rather than corn or soybeans grown for fuel. Sustainable road fuels, which are currently blended with diesel, could be engineered so that biofuel completely powers heavy-goods vehicles (HGVs).

Engineering biology is also opening new possibilities in the wider context of climate change mitigation. This includes more efficient greenhouse gas capture and using the waste as feedstock for biomanufacturing of products such as industrial chemicals or biofuels. Engineering enzymes for industry could replace other production methods that release more emissions. Engineering biology can also be applied to food production, whether through engineering nutritious and tasty microbial foods, or making milk using processes like precision fermentation.

Government support and investment

As with any new technology or technological shifts, there are challenges to overcome. These include ensuring market viability, policy and regulatory, public perception and ethical considerations. New biofuels and other technologies underpinned by engineering biology must prove economically competitive, safe and environmentally sustainable compared with existing energy sources to gain widespread adoption.

It is clear though, that governments are throwing their support behind engineering biology for its potential to create cleaner low or zero-carbon solutions. In 2022, the US government issued an Executive Order to boost this area of the bioeconomy, which prompted the US Department of Energy to establish the Office of Critical and Emerging Technology in 2023. The US Inflation Reduction of 2022 also provides tax incentives that are driving investment in biomass-derived and other synthetic liquid fuels.

Elsewhere, the UK government announced a £2 billion national vision for engineering biology, recognizing its potential in achieving climate goals across multiple sectors of industry.

These commitments underscore the growing recognition of engineering biology's potential to address global challenges, including climate change. As the energy industry continues to evolve, developments in engineering biology could prove crucial in shaping sustainable future strategies.