‘Energy role’ for photosynthesis

Learning how plants turn light into energy could lead to the production of cheap, emission-free power in the future, according to experts.

Leading figures in photosynthesis research have been discussing potential benefits at an event in Glasgow.
Professor Jim Barber, of Imperial College London, said they did not yet fully understand how the process works.

However, he said recent advances meant the time was right to consider it as a basis for sustainable energy in future.

Tuesday’s public discussion at the Glasgow Science Centre has been organised by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae and certain bacteria convert sunlight into chemical energy.

It is thought that mimicking this process could help improve the design of solar panels or work out how to extract hydrogen from water to produce hydrogen fuel.

BBC