News Algae Enables Photosynthesis-Powered Computing

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A multinational team of researchers have developed an algae-based energy source that could enable IoT to scale whilst reducing dependencies on energy grids - and enabling a much greener energy production for edge devices.

Algae Enables Photosynthesis-Powered Computing : Read more

 

[InvalidError]

Is it really greener than decent PV cells? PV cells are set-and-forget for 15-40 years depending on exposure to extreme conditions excluding physical damage with 2-3X greater photon-to-electron efficiency than algae. With algae batteries, you have to worry about your batteries dying from being left in direct sunlight, darkness, heat or cold for too long. If those bio-PV cells pollute 1/5th as much in manufacturing but you have to replace them 10X as often due to 'wear' and use/maintenance accidents, you are generating twice as much net emissions.

 

[escksu]

How is this better than solar power since both require light?? Furthermore, solar panels can be easily used in space and 0 maintenance.

 

[Deleted member 1353997]

How is this better than solar power since both require light?? Furthermore, solar panels can be easily used in space and 0 maintenance.

The article mentions low production and material cost.

Also, the way I understand it, the power is generated from consuming the nutrients that have been photosynthesized. This would mean the algae can provide power all day long without the need for an additional battery, unlike regular solar power.

 

[InvalidError]

The article mentions low production and material cost.

Turning glucose or whatever the algae may release its excess photosynthesis products as back into CO2 + H20 + electrons requires a catalyst and AFAIK, researchers are still searching for a viable alternative to platinum in fuel cell applications.

This would mean the algae can provide power all day long without the need for an additional battery, unlike regular solar power.

How much energy would an AA-sized algae battery be able to store before the algae kills itself by over-saturating the solution or over-crowding? The battery likely needs to be 95+% water by volume to keep the algae alive, so we're probably talking less than 5% the energy density of Li/Na-ion. You can simply use a small PV panel, a tiny energy-harvesting single-cell charger and a coin-cell Li/Na-ion battery.

It is neat in theory, unlikely to make sense in practice unless they come across some fundamental breakthrough in bio-PV such as finding a viable organic alternative to platinum that can achieve both durability and efficiency.