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 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 Moore, Christopher C. Moser, Daniel G. Nocera, Arthur J. Nozik, Donald R. Ort, William W. Parson, Roger C. Prince, Richard T. Sayre

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

1287 Scopus citations

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	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	805-809
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	332
Issue number	6031
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1200165
State	Published - May 13 2011

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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., 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

Blankenship, RE, Tiede, DM, Barber, J, Brudvig, GW, Fleming, G, Ghirardi, M, Gunner, MR, Junge, W, Kramer, DM, Melis, A, Moore, T, 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

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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.",

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 Thomas Moore 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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AU - Fleming, Graham

AU - Ghirardi, Maria

AU - Gunner, M. R.

AU - Junge, Wolfgang

AU - Kramer, David M.

AU - Melis, Anastasios

AU - Moore, Thomas

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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Comparing photosynthetic and photovoltaic efficiencies and recognizing the potential for improvement

Abstract

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