An Israeli scientist has put forward a proposal to create electricity using a method based on a process that takes place within the natural world. The process that occurs when pea plants transform sunlight into sugar could form the basis of a technology that electrifies homes with zero loss of energy, Professor Nathan Nelson of the University of Tel Aviv suggests.

Through drawing on the elements involved in plant photosynthesis, the advent may occur of technologies allowing parts of the plants themselves to be engineered into biological photovoltaic devices with a 100 per cent energy conversion rate, he says.

Biological Solar Cells

Already, Professor Nelson has developed a technique for extracting the minute crystals involved in this form of plant photosynthesis and transforming them into an ultra-small scale biological solar cell with a 10 volt output.

This cell is not expected to instantly be able to convert all the solar rays that hit it into energy. Rather, other scientists with links to this project foresee it achieving approximately 20 per cent energy-efficiency: a rate that would represent a five per cent increase on the top-performing silicon photovoltaic technologies available at the present moment.

Bio Solar Technology

This bio solar technology has pros and cons. On the positive side, it represents a low-cost energy solution: the projected price of each square metre of biological solar cells is approximately one dollar. On the negative side, the cell really is small – 3 millimetres across – and that puts it in roughly the same size-bracket as so-called “glitter” cells intended for use in items of clothing or tents.

Plans exist in Tel Aviv to develop larger cells that will extend to a centimetre in size.

“If we could come even close to how plants are manufacturing their sugar energy, we'd have a breakthrough”, Professor Nelson said. “It's therefore important to solve the structure of this nano-machine to understand its function.”

“This won't solve our world's energy problem, but this could be assembled in power switches for low-power solar needs”, he added.