Scientists mimic nature in £800,000 renewable energy project

Citation

(2013), "Scientists mimic nature in £800,000 renewable energy project", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 24 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq.2013.08324daa.003

Scientists mimic nature in £800,000 renewable energy project

Article Type: News From: Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Volume 24, Issue 4.

Scientists at the University of East Anglia (UK) are taking inspiration from the way that plants harness energy from the sun to develop more efficient renewable energy. A £800,000 research project will artificially replicate photosynthesis – the process by which plants transform sunlight into energy to help them grow.

The energy created will be used to produce hydrogen – a zero-emission fuel which can power vehicles or be transformed into electricity. It is thought that this method of harnessing the sun's energy will be far more efficient than existing solar converters. The research will be undertaken with teams from the University of Leeds and the University of Cambridge. It is funded by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).