We know that plants gather immense ammounts of energy from the sun through photosynthesis.
How does their energy absorption capacity compare to modern solar cells, and can we someday engineer algae or other simple plants to collect energy for us?
2006-10-06 14:32:50 · 5 answers · asked by Privratnik 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
Let me clarify that I'm not talking about a process that destroys the plant. I mean photosynthesis AS a generator.
2006-10-06 14:43:32 · update #1
Considering that solar cells are usually black while most plants are green, I'd say the solar cells are probably more efficient. However, if you wanted to do it, it would be possible to set up a system where you grow algae, ferment it to get natural gas and then burn the natural gas for energy.
2006-10-06 14:34:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Science cannot reproduce or recreate photosynthesis in a lab as of presently, though it is understood how it works and maybe someday science could replicate what plants do as a gift from Mother Nature. One of the applications is that the oxygen molecule in the water, the H20, will be removed by the plant and when the plant undergoes transpiration, or "exhales" in human terms, it releases that oxygen into the atmosphere. There is no shortage of oxygen in the atmosphere currently, but perhaps someday this interesting aspect of plants could be exploited for human gain.
2006-10-06 21:44:40 · answer #2 · answered by Professor Armitage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aaaa. . .i think that it's hard to do that, because the solar charger that we are using now convert light energy into elecrical energy. .it can only generate things that uses electrical power. .i think energy that plants produce is lower than the electrical energy that the solar charger produce, this is because plants have biological cell, while solar charger that we are using now have mechanical cell which is greater than the biological cell in the plant. Although these two things have the same function, it is far too different. . .
2006-10-07 00:16:54 · answer #3 · answered by Levi JD 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two words for you (albeit long ones): thermal depolymerization.
You grow plants, you put them in the thermal depolymerization reactor, you convert them to oil, with 80% efficiency (i.e. you use 20% of your oil to power the conversion).
2006-10-06 21:39:53 · answer #4 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
something of interest: Solar panels work similarly.
2006-10-06 21:35:14 · answer #5 · answered by djtzclark 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋