During the
high-level One Planet Summit in Paris on December 12, the European Commission
launched a competition on artificial photosynthesis. The €5 million award will
go to the best prototype that produces sustainable fuel by combining sunlight,
water and carbon from the air.
EU
Research, Science and Innovation Commissioner Carlos Moedas noted that Europe
is the world leader in innovative clean energy solutions that help tackle
climate change. “This new prize and other EIC Horizon Prizes will move these
efforts up a gear by challenging bright minds to think outside the box and come
up with novel technologies that improve our daily lives and help protect the
planet,” Moedas said.
Artificial
photosynthesis, considered one of the most promising breakthrough technologies
for producing clean energy, mimics the process of natural photosynthesis. Once
fully developed, this technology will provide sustainable alternatives to
fossil fuels for a range of applications in industry, housing and transport.
Overall, the EU will invest €2.2 billion during the next three years in
developing sustainable clean energy technologies under Horizon 2020. These
investments will focus on four interrelated areas: renewables, energy efficient
buildings, electro-mobility and storage solutions, including €200 million to
support the development and production in Europe of the next generation of
electric batteries. The prize is the second of six European Innovation Council
(EIC) Horizon Prizes and is run under Horizon 2020, the EU’s research and
innovation programme.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/eu-pushes-researchers-innovators-turn-sunlight-sustainable-fuel/