Algae Based Solar Panels

In california algae could compete with petroleum as the fuel of the future if only the process of growing it was more efficient thanks to a fellowship from the link foundation it soon could be.

Algae based solar panels.

They are taking advantage of millions of years of evolution to advance modern day solar technology. Using algae to make solar panels more efficient with life s help a team of marine biologists and biotechnologists in sweden are growing solar energy retaining algae for use in solar panels. Algae is grown inside our unique algae bioreactors from the collection of solar energy and carbon dioxide. This process converts sunlight into usable energy at roughly 2 efficiency whereas solar panels can do it at 25 efficiency or higher algae for biofuels is typically farmed in ponds using.

The resulting algal biomass is then burned to power an internal generator which creates electricity and heat. A doctoral student in plant biology at uc riverside is using the two year 60 000 fellowship to test whether she can grow algae for biofuels completely in the dark using solar generated electricity.