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> Probably more useful would be to install means to drive fixing CO2/H2O -> glucose using an electric current driven from external PV cells. Solar Foods[1][2]
by wcoenen 4y ago
> Probably more useful would be to install means to drive fixing CO2/H2O -> glucose using an electric current driven from external PV cells.
Solar Foods[1][2] does something like that by using the electricity to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen, CO2 and water (plus some nutrients) is then fed to bacteria that produce protein.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Foods https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Foods
[2] https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634192-700-a-factory-will-soon-start-making-green-food-from-air-and-electricity/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25634192-700-a-factor...
- moloch-hai 4y agoFascinating... TIL. There are catalyst coatings that split water directly from incident light, at (IIRC) 7-9% efficiency, avoiding need for the solar panels. H2 is very insoluble in water; maybe dissolving something else helps retain it? Do the microbes fix their own nitrogen? [...] They say they use a Xanthobacter strain; X. agilis eats hydrogen and fixes nitrogen... Looks like the variety they use produces carotenes and umami too.