Microbes: The Next-Generation Bioenergy Producers

An amalgamation of eternal-increasing energy outlay and global warming concerns has created an international imperative to seek alternative energy that is renewable and can be produced sustainably. Methodical studies have consistently shown that liquid fuels through microbial conversion derived from plant biomass are one of the excellent alternatives if it is lucrative means of commercial production. Yield, titre, and competent reconstruction of feedstock into fuel are the three most imperative factors for engineering microbes that can produce biofuels on an industrial scale. The role of microbial population is indispensable not only in the conversion of plant biomass into liquid fuels but also gaining momentum in the conversion of organic material into other forms of renewable energy sources: bioethanol, biodiesel, biohydrogen, and bioelectricity. Hence, contemporary research demands to understand the metabolomics of these microbial populations and ways and means to transform them to utilize organic waste into renewable energy source effectively. Recombinant technology combined with genomics and proteomics helps to understand and modulate the microbial communities to a better yielding strain. This review will discuss the role of different microbes in bioenergy production and highlight the techniques involved in their transformation, pros and cons of these microbial bioenergy producers in fulfilling the future energy demand.