The Mexican National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) has launched an initiative to imitate natural photosynthesis for the purpose of generating alternative fuels and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. “Artificial photosynthesis is the most advanced and promising scientific-technological option for the generation of high-power energy, with sunlight, water and the absorption of CO2 from the environment as the only inputs,” Leticia Torres, the assistant director of scientific development at CONACYT, told Tierramérica.

The agency will invest 2.3 million dollars in the first studies in this field, with the goal of achieving 10 to 15 times more efficiency than plants in the absorption of CO2.

At the same time, the process can be used to generate hydrogen and even ethanol, with higher energy yields than gasoline, gasoil and natural gas and less impact on the environment, said Torres.