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Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies and recognizing the potential for improvement.

Robert E RE Blankenship, David M DM Tiede, James J Barber, Gary W GW Brudvig, Graham G Fleming, Maria M Ghirardi, M R MR Gunner, Wolfgang W Junge, David M DM Kramer, Anastasios A Melis, Thomas A TA Moore, Christopher C CC Moser, Daniel G DG Nocera, Arthur J AJ Nozik, Donald R DR Ort, William W WW Parson, Roger C RC Prince, and Richard T RT Sayre

Science 332(6031):805-9 (2011) PMID 21566184

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.

DOI: 10.1126/science.1200165
Version: za2963e q8za7 q8zb4 q8zc1 q8zd3 q8ze8 q8zfc q8zg7

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