A research consortium has found a way to more accurately compare how efficiently plants and photovoltaic, or solar, cells convert sunlight into energy. The researchers found that the annual averaged efficiency of solar-cell-driven electrolysis is about 10 percent. But, solar energy conversion efficiencies for crop plants are about 1 percent, which illustrates the significant potential to improve the efficiency of the natural system.

Although both processes harvest energy from sunlight, they use that energy in different ways. Plants convert the sun’s energy into chemical energy, whereas solar cells produce electricity. This energy-efficiency analysis between plant photosynthesis and solar cells will lay the groundwork for improving the efficiency of plant photosynthesis in agriculture for improved yield.

Courtesy: NAFB News Service