Feb 25 2011
Joule Unlimited has published a detailed analysis and model of its unique solar-to-fuels platform.
Titled “A New Dawn for Industrial Photosynthesis,” the peer-review article published by “Photosynthesis Research,” analyzes Joule’s significant advances in solar capture and conversion, incessant product secretion and product synthesis, which presents a platform for renewable fuel and chemical production with yields, which are 50 times greater than the highest potential of other process requiring biomass. Additionally, the analysis contradicts previous assumptions about the practicality of industrial photosynthesis, detailing the hurdles overcome by Joule to attain unparalleled photosynthetic efficiency.
Joule Unlimited Schematic Process
President and CEO of Joule, Bill Sims affirmed that by channelizing photosynthesis they have reduced the dependence on biomass and created a transformational process. In comparison with an indirect source of fuel like biomass, the article outlines the advantages of Joule’s direct conversion process. Although both methods focus on converting solar energy into fuel, Joule’s method eliminates multiple stages employed in algal biomass, such as culturing, harvesting and processing.
Vice President of Biological Sciences at Joule, Dan Robertson stated that photosynthesis is a better platform technology, which enables for direct and renewable fuel product at the same volumes and cost needed to replace fossil fuels.
Highlights of the article include: 15,000 gallons of diesel per acre can be produced annually, which is 5 times more biodiesel produced using algae. In the production of ethanol, chemicals and diesel, the solar-to-product conversion efficiency of Joule’s process is up to 50 times greater than other biomass-dependent process. Joule’s collective progression in solar capture, bio-processing and genome engineering has resulted in efficiency of more than 7% compared to current annual solar energy reaching the ground.