Editing Renewable energy (section)

==== Artificial photosynthesis ====
{{main|Artificial photosynthesis}}

Artificial photosynthesis uses techniques including [[nanotechnology]] to store solar electromagnetic energy in chemical bonds by splitting water to produce hydrogen and then using carbon dioxide to make methanol.<ref>Collings AF and Critchley C (eds). Artificial Photosynthesis{{spaced ndash}}From Basic Biology to Industrial Application (Wiley-VCH Weinheim 2005) p ix.</ref> Researchers in this field strived to design molecular mimics of photosynthesis that use a wider region of the solar spectrum, employ catalytic systems made from abundant, inexpensive materials that are robust, readily repaired, non-toxic, stable in a variety of environmental conditions and perform more efficiently allowing a greater proportion of photon energy to end up in the storage compounds, i.e., carbohydrates (rather than building and sustaining living cells).<ref name="faunce">{{cite journal |last1=Faunce |first1=Thomas A. |last2=Lubitz |first2=Wolfgang |author-link2=Wolfgang Lubitz |last3=Rutherford |first3=A. W. (Bill) |last4=MacFarlane |first4=Douglas |last5=Moore |first5=Gary F. |last6=Yang |first6=Peidong |last7=Nocera |first7=Daniel G. |last8=Moore |first8=Tom A. |last9=Gregory |first9=Duncan H. |last10=Fukuzumi |first10=Shunichi |last11=Yoon |first11=Kyung Byung |last12=Armstrong |first12=Fraser A. |last13=Wasielewski |first13=Michael R. |last14=Styring |first14=Stenbjorn |year=2013 |title=Energy and environment policy case for a global project on artificial photosynthesis |journal=Energy & Environmental Science |publisher=RSC Publishing |volume=6 |issue=3 |page=695 |doi=10.1039/C3EE00063J|bibcode=2013EnEnS...6..695F }}</ref> However, prominent research faces hurdles, Sun Catalytix a MIT spin-off stopped scaling up their prototype fuel-cell in 2012 because it offers few savings over other ways to make hydrogen from sunlight.<ref>{{cite journal |author=jobs |date=23 May 2012 |title='Artificial leaf' faces economic hurdle: Nature News & Comment |url=http://www.nature.com/news/artificial-leaf-faces-economic-hurdle-1.10703 |url-status=live |journal=Nature News |publisher=Nature.com |doi=10.1038/nature.2012.10703 |s2cid=211729746 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201123957/http://www.nature.com/news/artificial-leaf-faces-economic-hurdle-1.10703 |archive-date=1 December 2012 |access-date=7 November 2012 |doi-access=free}}</ref> 

Recent research emphasizes that while artificial photosynthesis shows promise in splitting water to generate hydrogen, its broader significance lies in the ability to produce dense, carbon-based solar fuels suitable for transport applications, such as aviation and long-haul shipping. These fuels, if derived from carbon dioxide and water using sunlight, could close the carbon loop and reduce reliance on fossil-based hydrocarbons. However, realizing this potential requires overcoming major technical hurdles, including the development of efficient, durable catalysts for water oxidation and CO₂ reduction, and careful attention to land use and public perception.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cogdell |first=Richard J |first2=Brotosudarmo ,Tatas HP |first3=Gardiner ,Alastair T |first4=Sanchez ,Pedro M |last5=and Cronin |first5=Leroy |date=2010-11-01 |title=Artificial photosynthesis – solar fuels: current status and future prospects |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.4155/bfs.10.62 |journal=Biofuels |volume=1 |issue=6 |pages=861–876 |doi=10.4155/bfs.10.62 |issn=1759-7269}}</ref>