Artificial Photosynthesis Solar Panels

While solar panels are straining at the theoretical limits of their efficiency seeking to break free there s still a place for artificial photosynthesis which was for a long time a forgotten cousin.

Artificial photosynthesis solar panels.

Photosynthesis is an inefficient way to convert sunlight into biomass. Siemens energy and evonik s artificial photosynthesis is based on the the natural process through which solar energy is used by plants to to produce sugar from co 2 and water with renewable energies producing chemicals from co 2 and water through electrolysis with the help of bacteria. Effective artificial photosynthesis requires precise photon proton and electron management through disparate time and length scales. Jcap the doe fuels from sunlight energy innovation hub was originally established in 2010 and funding concludes this year.

Plants have had millions of years to improve upon photosynthesis and most green plants are fairly efficient at it locking down up to 6 percent of the solar energy that strikes a leaf s surface. Photon absorption in femto to picoseconds charge separation in pico to nanoseconds substrate approach and binding in nano to microseconds followed by bond formation and product. Modern solar pv systems can achieve three times higher efficiency. Lisa and chase will succeed the joint center for artificial photosynthesis jcap.

We can grow algae potentially more efficiently utilizing solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. The pilot plant in mari consists of a carbon monoxide co electrolyser developed by siemens energy a. It seems likely that people will continue to want liquid and solid fuels that can be burned whereas solar panels can only provide us with electricity. The global energy and environment crisis that aroused by the consistent emission of carbon dioxide and the fast exhaustion of fossil resources becomes seriously in new century.

So on both sides of the coin i think there is great power to having a coordinated effort in solar energy solar energy storage in this area of artificial photosynthesis. The department s fuels from sunlight energy innovation hub program will continue through the combined efforts of lisa and chase. In the design of new structures for artificial photosynthesis we draw upon what is known about the protein reaction center structures which accomplish natural photosynthesis. High nuclearity co polyoxometalate based artificial photosynthesis for solar hydrogen generation.