The current ESF Science Policy Briefing, put together by leading European scientists in the field of solar-to-fuel energy conversion, offers a common scientific view on technologies to harness solar energy and how to meet the challenges for Europe today and in the future.

The briefing recommends putting top priority on the development of biosynthetic solar-to-fuel and biomimetic photosynthetic technologies as a means of sustainable energy if Europe is to become the leader in the field.

Providing affordable energy in a sustainable manner and without causing environmental damage is one of the toughest challenges in the 21st century. Currently, in addition to creating closed-cycle zero emission fossil fuel technologies, solar energy conversion and nuclear fusion appear to be the most favorable solutions for clean energy production.

In order to overcome the many challenges and lack of understanding related to the clean fuel research, the briefing lays out long-term steps to a European action plan for harnessing solar energy for the production of clean fuel along with societal, political, and economic recommendations. Here are but a few:

• The non-technical aspects of energy systems need to be considered when looking at the whole picture. Societal and ethical research is needed to understand the implications of energy security and safety issues and of possible emerging environmental concerns on the economies and way of life. In other words, the social sciences must play a vital role in handling the complex interactions between governments, industries, other stake holders, and the public.
• Vigorous action by all countries is needed if greenhouse gas concentrations are to be stabilized at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system.
• Well focused R&D into solar fuels by national governments is essential, especially for basic science that is pre-competitive.
• Leadership of the European Commission is critical; current incentives for companies to make early investments are weak. Prototyping and learning curves require more resources than the initial R&D phase.
• Public and private support is essential to focus valuable human resources for a smooth transition to solar fuel before a less efficient chain of biofuels and a new fossil fuel supply infrastructure are locked into place. Currently, “students who are going to study mining in our technical universities are offered excellent career prospects, while students in the basic sciences that are necessary for overcoming the barriers of a renewable energy systems experience many more hurdles.”
• Bigger budgets. Europe recognizes their research into the direct conversion of solar energy into fuel with high efficiency is lagging behind with respect to international competition, mainly from the USA. Budgets need to be significantly increased.

Bottom line, solar fuels will be produced. How quickly this can happen will depend on scientific progress in three areas:

• Biotechnology. Biofuels from modified photosynthetic organisms, including biomimetic routes aiming for biological & chemical hybrid systems.
• Photocatalysis. Development of chemical & physical solar-to-fuel cells (artificial leaf).
• Social sciences. Problems with incumbent opposition to innovation, improvement of scenario techniques, and understanding complex networks of social interactions with respective public involvement.

Solar energy is plentiful; enough light reaches the Earths surface every hour to meet the world’s energy needs. The problem lies in harnessing it. The race is on.

Final note: currently Germany is among the biggest spenders on energy R&D in the world, together with the USA and Japan. The bulk of the research in renewable energy is in third generation photovoltaic and wind.

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Posted on January 19th in Solar News by Beth.