21-01-2013, 01:16 PM
The BioSolar Cells project
1The BioSolar.pdf (Size: 461.61 KB / Downloads: 76)
Energy
The world faces a rapidly increasing demand for
sustainable energy. Man-caused changes that threaten
the climate, together with oilsupplies that eventually
will run short, forces us to rely on alternative biomass
sources for products that now originate from oil. First
and second generation biofuels cannot fulfi ll this need
in a sustainable and societal acceptable manner. In
addition, the world faces the challenge to increase
agricultural production to adequately feed an increasing
world population. Since the possibilities to increase the
agricultural acreage are limited, this largely must be
accomplished by improving the landproductivity.
The largest option available is the sun and it is our
challenge to make the most of this incredible resource.
While solar power currently revolves primarily around
the application of photovoltaic cells, new options are
available with photobiological cells or BioSolar Cells.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the key processes on this planet - the
foundation for all (fossil) energy and therefore for life.
Less well known is that photosynthesis is an enormous
diverse process that occurs in many different organisms.
This means that there is a great deal of biological
variation that can be explicitly deployed to improve
photosynthesis.
What are BioSolar Cells?
BioSolar Cells are natural systems or systems based on
natural processes that use photosynthesis to convert
sunlight into useable energy. This occurs in many ways,
and the BioSolar Cells Project focuses on three options:
1 Increasing the photosynthetic effi ciency of plants
Outcome: More biomass and higher yields per given
surface area.
2 Direct production of fuels, bypassing the biomass
phase. Outcome: Photosynthetic cyanobacteria or
algae that produce butanol, for example.
3 Combining natural and technological components.
Outcome: ‘Artifi cial Leaves’ that highly effi ciently
produce hydrogen gas or syn-gas from solar energy.
Results
There are many possible results. One example is the
development of high production plants that are used
for both food and feed. Another is the cultivation of
micro-organisms on large patches of land or (sea)
water that are currently unusable for biofuel production.
And then there is the development of solar collectors
that can refuel our cars at night.
There are already numerous possibilities and some
applications are within reach. Further exploration of
photosynthesis will result in new, unexpected options.
Although true innovations cannot be predicted, they can
be guided.