Navigation : EXPO21XX > RENEWABLE ENERGY 21XX > H33: Universities - Renewable Energy Research > ASU Center f. Bioenergy & Photosynthesis
ASU Center f. Bioenergy & Photosynthesis
Videos
Loading the player ...
  • Offer Profile
  • The center carries out frontier multidisciplinary scientific research designed to use biological and biologically-based artificial systems to address societal energy needs in a sustainable manner, with an emphasis on solar energy conversion and bioinspired energy transformation to meet human needs, and investigates other aspects of photosynthesis that affect society and the environment.
Product Portfolio

  • The Center for Bioenergy & Photosynthesis

  • The center carries out frontier multidisciplinary scientific research designed to use biological and biologically-based artificial systems to address societal energy needs in a sustainable manner, with an emphasis on solar energy conversion and bio inspired energy transformation to meet human needs, and investigates other aspects of photosynthesis that affect society and the environment.

      • About the Center

      • biological and biologically-based artificial systems to address societal energy needs in a sustainable manner, with an emphasis on solar energy conversion and bioinspired energy transformation to meet human needs.

        Working in tight coordination with the Arizona Institute of Renewable Energy (AIRE), ASU Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering, we will:
        • research how photosynthetic organisms store energy and develop similar processes that can be utilized in non-biological systems (artificial photosynthesis)
        • discover new energy transfer pathways in microorganisms using metagenomics and other state-of-the-art techniques
        • metabolically manipulate and engineer organisms for bioenergy production, including hydrogen, ethanol, and bio-diesel
        • develop the design and optimization of bioreactors and production processes for bioenergy production
        • examine the nature and role of photosynthetic organisms on environmental processes, climate, and human activities
        • investigate the societal implications of bioenergy use and inform the general public about photosynthesis and the transition to the post-petroleum world
        • work closely with our partners to develop sustainable solutions to other problems such as developing small solar energy collection/storage devices to deliver electricity to the two billion poor that currently are without such service
        • communicate our findings to the broader world and engage in extensive education and outreach activities at the K-12, college, community and professional levels, including preparing teaching materials, conducting workshops, hosting web sites, staging lectures and organizing conferences
        The Center for Bioenergy & Photosynthesis maintains, or has access to, several major Arizona State University Equipment Facilities and Laboratories.

          • Resources

              • Bioenergy

              • Arizona State University (ASU) has been a pioneer in the understanding of photosynthesis and bioenergy research for over twenty years. ASU is committed to performing use-inspired research where research in basic science leads to results of high social impact expediently. ASU‘s unique interdisciplinary approach leverages not only world-class scientific innovation but also supports development of “real world” solutions with an “industrial-style” program management capability. The approach includes:

              • Photosynthesis

              • What is Photosynthesis?
                Photosynthesis is a complex process. The links here explain the process at various levels of understanding.

                Why Study Photosynthesis? An important essay that explains how the study of photosynthesis is related to many areas of study.

                 

              • Renewable energy

              • The need for a continuous energy supply and energy requirements for transportation necessitates technology for storage of energy from sunlight in fuel, as well as conversion to electricity. Cost-effective technologies for solar fuel production do not exist, prompting the need for new fundamental science.