Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement

Robert E. Blankenship; David M. Tiede; James Barber; Gary W. Brudvig; Graham Fleming; Maria Ghirardi; M. R. Gunner; Wolfgang Junge; David M. Kramer; Anastasios Melis; Thomas A. Moore; Christopher C. Moser; Daniel G. Nocera; Arthur J. Nozik; Donald R. Ort; William W. Parson; Roger C. Prince; Richard T. Sayre

doi:10.1126/science.1200165

Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement

Robert E. Blankenship, David M. Tiede, James Barber, Gary W. Brudvig, Graham Fleming, Maria Ghirardi, M. R. Gunner, Wolfgang Junge, David M. Kramer, Anastasios Melis, Thomas A. Moore, Christopher C. Moser, Daniel G. Nocera, Arthur J. Nozik, Donald R. Ort, William W. Parson, Roger C. Prince, Richard T. Sayre

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Abstract

Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies is not a simple issue. Although both processes harvest the energy in sunlight, they operate in distinctly different ways and produce different types of products: biomass or chemical fuels in the case of natural photosynthesis and nonstored electrical current in the case of photovoltaics. In order to find common ground for evaluating energy-conversion efficiency, we compare natural photosynthesis with present technologies for photovoltaic-driven electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. Photovoltaic-driven electrolysis is the more efficient process when measured on an annual basis, yet short-term yields for photosynthetic conversion under optimal conditions come within a factor of 2 or 3 of the photovoltaic benchmark. We consider opportunities in which the frontiers of synthetic biology might be used to enhance natural photosynthesis for improved solar energy conversion efficiency.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	805-809
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	332
Issue number	6031
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165
State	Published - 2011

NREL Publication Number

NREL/JA-2700-50896

Keywords

photovoltaic-driven electrolysis
solar energy conversion

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Blankenship, R. E., Tiede, D. M., Barber, J., Brudvig, G. W., Fleming, G., Ghirardi, M., Gunner, M. R., Junge, W., Kramer, D. M., Melis, A., Moore, T. A., Moser, C. C., Nocera, D. G., Nozik, A. J., Ort, D. R., Parson, W. W., Prince, R. C., & Sayre, R. T. (2011). Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement. Science, 332(6031), 805-809. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165

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title = "Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement",

abstract = "Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies is not a simple issue. Although both processes harvest the energy in sunlight, they operate in distinctly different ways and produce different types of products: biomass or chemical fuels in the case of natural photosynthesis and nonstored electrical current in the case of photovoltaics. In order to find common ground for evaluating energy-conversion efficiency, we compare natural photosynthesis with present technologies for photovoltaic-driven electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. Photovoltaic-driven electrolysis is the more efficient process when measured on an annual basis, yet short-term yields for photosynthetic conversion under optimal conditions come within a factor of 2 or 3 of the photovoltaic benchmark. We consider opportunities in which the frontiers of synthetic biology might be used to enhance natural photosynthesis for improved solar energy conversion efficiency.",

keywords = "photovoltaic-driven electrolysis, solar energy conversion",

author = "Blankenship, {Robert E.} and Tiede, {David M.} and James Barber and Brudvig, {Gary W.} and Graham Fleming and Maria Ghirardi and Gunner, {M. R.} and Wolfgang Junge and Kramer, {David M.} and Anastasios Melis and Moore, {Thomas A.} and Moser, {Christopher C.} and Nocera, {Daniel G.} and Nozik, {Arthur J.} and Ort, {Donald R.} and Parson, {William W.} and Prince, {Roger C.} and Sayre, {Richard T.}",

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Blankenship, RE, Tiede, DM, Barber, J, Brudvig, GW, Fleming, G, Ghirardi, M, Gunner, MR, Junge, W, Kramer, DM, Melis, A, Moore, TA, Moser, CC, Nocera, DG, Nozik, AJ, Ort, DR, Parson, WW, Prince, RC & Sayre, RT 2011, 'Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement', Science, vol. 332, no. 6031, pp. 805-809. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165

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AU - Blankenship, Robert E.

AU - Tiede, David M.

AU - Barber, James

AU - Brudvig, Gary W.

AU - Fleming, Graham

AU - Ghirardi, Maria

AU - Gunner, M. R.

AU - Junge, Wolfgang

AU - Kramer, David M.

AU - Melis, Anastasios

AU - Moore, Thomas A.

AU - Moser, Christopher C.

AU - Nocera, Daniel G.

AU - Nozik, Arthur J.

AU - Ort, Donald R.

AU - Parson, William W.

AU - Prince, Roger C.

AU - Sayre, Richard T.

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AB - Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies is not a simple issue. Although both processes harvest the energy in sunlight, they operate in distinctly different ways and produce different types of products: biomass or chemical fuels in the case of natural photosynthesis and nonstored electrical current in the case of photovoltaics. In order to find common ground for evaluating energy-conversion efficiency, we compare natural photosynthesis with present technologies for photovoltaic-driven electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. Photovoltaic-driven electrolysis is the more efficient process when measured on an annual basis, yet short-term yields for photosynthetic conversion under optimal conditions come within a factor of 2 or 3 of the photovoltaic benchmark. We consider opportunities in which the frontiers of synthetic biology might be used to enhance natural photosynthesis for improved solar energy conversion efficiency.

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Comparing Photosynthetic and Photovoltaic Efficiencies and Recognizing the Potential for Improvement

Abstract

NREL Publication Number

Keywords

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