Could plant power reduce power plants?

In order to cut harmful emissions, scientists in the UK are currently exploring the possibility of adopting the process plants use to turn sunlight into energy.

The scientists are hoping to find a new, renewable source of zero-carbon fuel which could replace power plants and be a lot more environmentally friendly.

In essence, it is hoped that the scientists will be able to artificially replicate photosynthesis and use the energy created from the process to create hydrogen gas.

Hydrogen gas can be used in a variety of industries, two of which are the electricity industry and the automotive industry.

Owing to the sheer volume of harmful gases emitted from these two industries, a more environmentally friendly alternative could be revolutionary for the country.

The researchers are from a variety of universities across the country, including the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Cambridge, and Leeds.

The team has been awarded £800,000 from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). It has been given such a large sum of money because the BBSRC is keen to get the project underway immediately.

Lead researcher Professor Julea Butt from UEA's school of Chemistry and Biological Sciences said the technique would work by placing tiny solar cells on microbes to harness sunlight and drive the production of hydrogen.

It is thought that it will be far more efficient than other methods.

"Many renewable energy supplies, such as sunlight, wind and the waves, remain largely untapped resources," she added.

"We imagine that our photocatalysts will prove versatile and that with slight modification they will be able to harness solar energy for the manufacture of carbon-based fuels, drugs and fine chemicals."