Towards Global Artificial Photosynthesis (Global Solar Fuels): Energy, Nanochemistry, and Governance

Artificial photosynthesis as a frontier technology for energy sustainability

“…14 Similarly, although the UN, key energy policy institutions such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) acknowledge that we are now in a period of transition in energy/fuel patterns and related social, environmental and industry policy, 15 the revolutionary potential of AP has not been substantially addressed in key energy policy documents such as the US DOE and Council for Automotive Energies Hydrogen Production Roadmap, the EU Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan and the programs of the World Bank. 16 Much of such public funding of basic AP research remains short term, facilitating entry of new groups, but not their building of infrastructure or retaining key researchers. To ramp up the eld these public resources may be leveraged with private capital through initiatives such as the Dutch BioSolar Cells open innovation partnership 17 and the Solar Fuels Institute (SOFI) based at Northwestern University in the USA.…”

Energy and environment policy case for a global project on artificial photosynthesis

“…Articial photosynthesis has unique, safe long-term capacity to provide an 'offgrid' zero-carbon, safe, affordable energy and climate change solution to particularly meet the needs of developing nations or those living in hostile environments, but to do so signicant ethical and legal challenges will need to be addressed. 36 Some of these challenges are discussed in the next section dealing with the form and structure of a GAP project.…”

The social acceptance of artificial photosynthesis: towards a conceptual framework

“…buildings, roads, vehicles)' [2]. Another suggests that 'global artificial photosynthesis could replace policy models of corporate globalization and ever-increasing economic growth predicated on preparation for war and use of non-renewable and polluting energy sources' [3]. Still another remarks that if widely adopted, AP could enable humanity to transition from the 'anthropocene', our current geologic era, to a new, more sustainable and just one termed the 'sustainocene' [4].…”