For years, the global scientific community has sought ways to unlock a sustainable, boundless energy source. The quest has explored everything from Moon crystals to boundary-defying molecules. However, recent groundbreaking research suggests that we may have discovered a means to harness energy generation, inspired by the incredible efficiency of plant photosynthesis.

This breakthrough came to light through innovative research where scientists successfully replicated the natural process of photosynthesis to create methane. This high-energy-density fuel is generated using only water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight. Their findings are documented in a newly published paper in ACS Engineering. If scaled up, this new process could revolutionize the energy landscape, potentially replacing solar panels as a primary source of clean, infinite energy—something researchers have been striving to achieve for decades.

The project was spearheaded by a team of engineers led by Kazunari Domen. They not only emulated photosynthesis but took a step further by developing a system that utilizes sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The goal was to evolve this process to more closely resemble the natural system used by plants, absorbing carbon dioxide and capturing the Sun’s energy in the form of methane, essentially creating an artificial version of photosynthesis.

This novel system bears some resemblance to traditional solar panels but goes beyond mere energy capture and storage. Instead, it replicates the photosynthesis process, enabling the generation of even more storable energy. Scaling this system up to meet the energy needs of entire cities poses significant challenges, as discussed in the team’s paper. Critical concerns include preventing methane leaks, which could exacerbate greenhouse gas emissions, further contributing to climate change and global warming.

To ensure its viability as a sustainable energy source, any large-scale implementation of this system must prioritize containment and prevent methane leaks. Such measures are essential to avoid adding to the greenhouse gas emissions that have previously posed significant threats to our planet and its environment.

By Impact Lab