A Brighter

Future

The new Solar Fuels Institute (SOFI) An international team of leading scientists has chosen Evanston, Illinois and Telluride, Colorado to host a revolutionary new Solar Fuels Institute (SOFI). The SOFI team, led by internationally-recognized Northwestern The ambitious goal of SOFI is to be a major and University Professor Michael R. Wasielewski, will transform the essential contributor to solving the world's energy fundamental science of artificial photosynthesis into the crisis within a decade. This brochure explains how technology that runs our households, agriculture, and industry. this will be done. The solar fuels developed will use existing infrastructure requiring minimal change in industry and consumer behavior. By mimicking one of nature's most fundamental processes – photosynthesis – SOFI scientists aim to Global energy needs are expected to double over the next 40 fuel the planet sustainably using the ultimate years. Initiatives focused on finding cost-effective, carbon- energy source, the sun. Plants sustain their energy neutral energy sources are critically important for meeting those needs by capturing sunlight and turning it into needs and sustaining earth's balance. nutrients. SOFI scientists aim to convert the sun's energy into clean fuels by following nature's photo- However, excess carbon dioxide (CO ) generated by burning synthetic blueprint. 2 conventional fossil fuels is still in the atmosphere. The technologies SOFI scientists create will turn that CO2 back into clean fuels, thus mitigating the effects of CO2 on climate change. Recycling at its best. How will this change the world? Imagine your children and grandchildren building on the legacy of a sustainable energy solution. Future generations will refine and enhance the capabilities of this new technology. Imagine not passing down What are our global the energy crisis. energy needs? Currently, the world’s total Imagine the news without energy related disaster energy demand is about 15 stories. Recent catastrophic events highlight the trillion watts, or 15 terawatts need for a new approach to meeting the world's (TW). This is projected to energy needs: the meltdown of the Fukushima increase to 30 TW by 2050 nuclear reactor in Japan after the massive tsunami and 45 TW by 2100 as the and earthquake; contaminated water tables and world’s population continues to inadvertent earthquakes caused by natural gas grow and the economies of fracking; and destructive off-shore oil spills. These China, India, Brazil, and the events remind us that business as usual is developing world expand. If the not working. world meets these demands by burning fossil fuels, atmo- In a world fueled by solar energy, extractive spheric CO2 will be ten times technologies of oil, coal, and natural gas are old higher in 2100 than it is today. fashioned and outdated. Nuclear power becomes Such concentrations have not obsolete. Energy waste-product toxins no longer existed for hundreds of millions contaminate rivers and oceans. Planet earth rejuve- of years and coincide with nates. Quality of life improves. periods of mass extinction.

What’s more, the cost of extracting energy from fossil fuels is expected to increase throughout the remainder of the 21st century as resources become scarce. Implicit in the expanded use of fossil fuels is the assumption that this can be done without disrupting global economic growth.

To ensure worldwide economic stability, environmental sustain- ability, and human prosperity during the next few decades and beyond, drastic changes in our energy supply and infrastructure systems will be necessary. Why is solar energy better? Five sustainable sources of carbon-neutral energy are currently being discussed and investigated to meet the anticipated global need of 30-45 TW. Researchers have calculated how much energy could be produced if current existing technologies were fully implemented around the globe.

EARTH: If the geothermic potential of all hot springs, geysers, and other natural heat sources were tapped for energy, less than 12 TW would be generated; a much smaller fraction is actually realistic. The Earth's usable heat is not sufficient to provide the world's energy demands.

WIND: If all the surface winds on the face of the Earth could be utilized, only about 12 TW could be tapped; realistically, only 2.5 TW could be generated.

BIOMASS: If sugarcane or some other high yield crop were planted on all cultivatable land across the world, only 6 TW would be produced and that would leave no land to grow food crops. Why are solar fuels better than WATER: If all the potential hydroelectric energy available from all the water flowing downhill in all the solar power? rivers, lakes, and oceans on Earth is used, only 4-5 While solar energy is clearly TW could be produced; 1.5 TW might be the way forward, it is not practically possible. perfect. Since the sun does not shine everywhere all the time, solar energy must either be stored for use later or transported from where it is available to where it is needed.

Current solar energy technol- ogy, solar power, converts SUN: The sun is a giant nuclear fusion reactor at a sunlight into electricity using safe distance of about 93,000,000 miles from our photovoltaics, i.e. solar cells. planet. The energy of the sunlight that hits the Electricity storage in batteries is surface of the Earth in one hour is equal to the inefficient and expensive, and current worldwide energy demand for an entire year: electricity transmission requires 15 TW in 60 minutes. infrastructure not available in developing countries where the SUMMARY: Developing the infrastructure to harvest energy demand will be energy practically from all hydroelectric, geothermal, highest. Hence, current solar wind, and biomass sources would yield only 12-14 energy technology is difficult TW — only half of what is needed by 2050. and expensive for use on a Conversely, implementing solar energy technologies global scale. alone on a modest global scale would meet our needs through 2100 and beyond. The solar energy of the future converts sunlight into solar fuels using artificial photosynthesis. Solar fuels are liquid hydrocarbon fuels similar to petroleum that can be stored in tanks and transported in vehicles powered by the fuels themselves. What is photosynthesis? Photosynthesis is evolution’s answer to a key biological problem: how to take the energy from light and store it in chemical bonds. Plants and some microorganisms do this well, providing What is artificial nutrients for all their life processes. The photosyn- photosynthesis? thetic process converts energy from a form that is Artificial photosynthesis adapts abundant, but transient, to a form that is storable the principles of natural and metabolically useful. Without it, plants and photosynthesis to create animals could not exist. systems for solar fuels produc- tion that are simpler, more Photosynthesis uses the energy in photons to robust, and more efficient than synthesize carbohydrates, using CO2 as a source of the natural system. Like the carbon and water as a source of hydrogen and natural process, it uses a oxygen. The process requires two catalysts: one to solar-powered catalyst to split split water into its constituent atoms, and the other water and produce hydrogen. to drive the synthesis that uses CO2. Both catalysts This hydrogen can either be are powered by light from the sun. used directly to power hydro- gen fuel cells, or it can be combined with CO2 via another photocatalyst to yield conven- tional liquid hydrocarbon fuels similar to petroleum.

Various catalysts capable of splitting water or synthesizing hydrocarbons exist today. However, most of them require an external electric current to function. The challenge is to discover or engineer catalysts that derive energy directly from photons. Direct solar fuels production that bypasses intermediate energy carriers, such as biomass or electricity, has the potential to be more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally benign than existing technologies.

As it exists in nature, photosynthesis is very inefficient. Only a fraction of a percent of the energy in light incident on a plant’s leaves ultimately ends up in long-term storage. Much of the light is not absorbed by the right components, and much of the converted energy is used immediately for cellular metabolism and growth. Removing these limitations could yield much greater efficiencies of at least ten percent. Where are the knowledge gaps? Artificial photosynthesis is a promising technology poised to revolutionize the availability and use of carbon-neutral, geopolitically favorable fuels. However, no comprehensive, cost-effective artificial Why hasn't this photosynthetic system exists today. Currently this happened yet? Why technology remains in the research and develop- can it happen now? ment stages, relying heavily on the discovery of new Achieving SOFI goals requires a materials and catalysts. sustained, integrated, focused, and managed global and Advances in basic research have already increased cross-disciplinary, effort that has understanding of the fundamental principles that been lacking until now. SOFI will govern solar energy conversion. integrate and leverage 25-30 international labs already researching artificial photosynthe- sis, uniting them into an efficient coordinated research team dedicated to developing solar fuels and supported by sufficient long-term funding to enable the needed 10-year initiative.

However, current technologies cannot yet produce Biologists, chemists, physicists, efficient, scalable, and sustainable solar fuels that engineers, and computational are economically viable. scientists are all part of the project. Researchers at laborato- Over the first five years of SOFI, scientific research ries in the United States, will close the knowledge gaps necessary to achieve Sweden, France, Japan, commercially viable artificial photosynthesis. These Germany, China, and ten other gaps include: countries will focus on develop- • Learning how to capture sunlight efficiently ing the science and technology • Discovering new catalysts for fuels production required to implement artificial • Developing integrated systems that combine photosynthesis. Linking such sunlight capture with catalysts for storable diverse disciplines and fuels production geographically and institutionally dispersed players requires the Research efforts will focus on minimizing costs and base of understanding, increasing efficiencies. Moreover, the work will reputation as well as neutral address the need to provide storable fuels that can meeting facilities the SOFI make use of existing infrastructure. initiative provides.

Who is developing At the same time, the program acknowledges that success will Artificial Photosynthesis? demand more than scientific Artificial photosynthesis is an active field with more exploration. We recognize that than 50 major international laboratories dedicated to many technical but also this research. More than 450 research articles were non-technical barriers will need to published in peer-reviewed journals in 2010 alone. be overcome and that uncertain- ties and developments along The combined expertise necessary to push multiple dimensions must be forward the technology of artificial photosynthesis identified, assessed, monitored exists, and a collaborative, team-oriented research and addressed. Accordingly, model is emerging in the United States to develop unlike other programs, SOFI has artificial photosynthesis. Importantly, SOFI will launched an ongoing expand this model to include the international roadmapping/scenario planning scientific community. process with active industry involvement that will continually inform management and run alongside research. Why Telluride? There is an almost poetic, historic connection. Telluride was the site of a major energy revolution in 1896 when Nikola Tesla, George Westinghouse, and L.L. Nunn lit up the mining town with Telluride Science alternating current. Research Center TSRC is a world leader in convening multidisciplinary, international teams to advance scientific research.

TSRC is an independent science center providing the neutral ground essential for the free exchange of ideas among Telluride was the first town in the world to be scientists. With a strong track illuminated by this technology. It was the birthplace record of attracting top interna- tional scientists to small of AC power utilization. It is only fitting that Telluride multidisciplinary meetings, has a role in the next energy revolution. TSRC fosters new collabora- tions and sets powerful new Telluride has continued to demonstrate a commit- directions for scientific ment to renewable energy and is home to major research. The informality of investors that, reflecting the community, are partner- TSRC is a key ingredient to ing with SOFI to raise the funds necessary to creative scientific problem solving. The open platform construct the new facility described on the next page leads scientists in and to fund solar fuels research and development. unexpected directions.

There is a special quality to Telluride. The energetic New ideas stem more from beauty of this small mountain town opens dialogue, networks than from isolated promotes collaboration, and heightens creative eureka moments. Innovation thinking. In Telluride, scientists are free from the most often comes from constraints of their home institutions. The cobbling together ideas that already exist, from cultivating geographic isolation and neutral site has for years hunches, from lingering ideas enabled productive interaction among researchers that blossom into theories in from around the world connecting scientists in a way the company of a cohesive other cities cannot. network of colleagues. Innova- tion needs a little chaos, an Finally, and most importantly, it is home to the informal setting, focus, and Telluride Science Research Center. down time. TSRC knows how to provide this environment, and has since 1984.

Today, TSRC meetings live at the creative crossroads of basic research and applied science in biology, chemistry, physics, computational sciences, and engineering – exactly the sort of teams SOFI needs to solve the energy crisis.

Addressing global problems requires a multidisciplinary, international, collaborative approach to find successful solutions. TSRC is SOFI's natural partner. Northwestern University The Opportunity Research thrives at Northwestern University, with an The Research: SOFI is being organized as a global consortium of annual budget of over $1.6 billion and more than $500 research and development organizations that will develop the million in sponsored research. Northwestern University technology required to establish a solar fuels industry using largely is a comprehensive research institution providing private capital. SOFI’s overarching goal is the development of exceptional resources in support of diverse research efficient, cost-effective photovoltaic and photocatalytic systems to initiatives. At Northwestern, interdisciplinary teams work capture sunlight that are integrated with high performance to solve society's problems and facilitate clinical and catalysts for water splitting and reduction of CO2 to liquid fuels. commercial use of their innovations. This consortium of laboratories will work closely together to generate the intellectual and collaborative resources needed meet Northwestern researchers have developed strong this goal. A solid management approach will maximize success. partnerships with their peers at Argonne National Laboratory through the Argonne-Northwestern Solar The Facility: SOFI and TSRC will partner to construct a large, Energy Research (ANSER) Center, and with top year-round facility to house an environment that fosters creativity, researchers at other world-class universities and idea generation, and innovation. This 30,000 sq. ft. $25 million institutes. The school has a strong and growing basic dollar facility in Telluride will be equipped with meeting rooms, and applied energy research focus. demonstration laboratories, a small lecture hall, classrooms, a visitor center, some lodging, and more. SOFI scientists will Since its inception in 1851, the University has been convene annually to utilize this space in Telluride. Additionally, home to a strong tradition of collaborative research research teams and scientists will be in residence at the Institute and leadership in interdisciplinary research programs, on a regular basis. centers and institutes. More than one hundred centers and institutes exist as evidence of The Funding: SOFI and TSRC are partnering to launch a bold Northwestern’s commitment to such vibrant and campaign to raise one billions dollars over the next ten years to interdisciplinary research. fund research, bridge the knowledge gaps in the science of artificial photosynthesis, and use this science to drive new solar The Solar Fuels Institute is proud to partner within fuels technologies. Historically, the cyclic nature of research Northwestern University to establish its administrative funding in this field has prevented solar fuels from becoming a headquarters at Northwestern’s campus in Evanston, reality thus far. It is time to break this cycle and ensure sufficient Illinois. Within an environment that fosters innovation resources are available to finally make solar fuels an important part and market translation, Northwestern will provide the of meeting our future energy needs. Steady funding is absolutely capable expertise needed to manage and facilitate key to the success of this endeavor, especially with the aggressive SOFI’s administration. timeline of one decade. SOFI research and development funds will be used to augment and leverage existing solar fuels research at partner institutions to accelerate progress toward the goal of a viable solar fuels technology. In addition, SOFI and TSRC will partner to raise the funds needed for the Telluride facility. Fundrais- ing begins with identifying a substantial base of interested US and international investors.

SOFI at Northwestern University 2145 Sheridan Road / Evanston, IL 60208 / Contact: Michael Wasielewski / 847.467.4910 / [email protected]

SOFI at Telluride Science Research Center PO Box 2429, Telluride, CO 81435 / Contact: Nana Naisbitt / 970.708.0004 / [email protected]