Peas - More than Just Good Food

I’ve always thought photosynthesis was cool.

Yes, photovoltaic solar power is cool too, but converting light energy into electricity doesn’t seem like such a huge transformation. Light – a type of energy we can’t see or touch – being converted into electricity – another form of energy we can’t see or touch.

But photosynthesis, now that’s something. Plants convert light into… well, I always thought it came close to creating life. Using the energy of the sun to help plants grow, to literally form living organic mass.

The news today is that researchers at Tel Aviv University have managed to harness the engine of photosynthesis to create electricity, using nanotechnology.

In a plant, solar energy energizes electrons, triggering a biochemical reaction that leads to sugar production. The mechanism is something called Photosystem 1, a very sophisticated nano-scale arrangement that converts solar energy into chemical energy.

The Tel Aviv researchers managed to isolate tiny crystalline elements of the PS1 from a common pea plant, and tweaked them to generate not chemical energy, but electrical energy. In fact, they created an array of these crystals on top of a layer of gold (an excellent conductor) and laid it out in the sun. The result: 10 volts of juice.

The message: peas are good tasting, good for you, and may be an important part of a balanced energy diet as well.

A Power Source Blooms

Who is Bloom Energy

This Silicon Valley startup emerged from stealth mode last week promising to solve the word’s energy crisis and make sure everybody gets double portions of ice cream for dessert.

Well, actually, they announced a solid oxide fuel cell that the company claims will enable homes and businesses to generate their own electricity. They call it the Bloom Box, which I admit is a catchy name, but I wish they provided more details about how it works.

Here’s what we do know: the company has raised boatloads of VC money, somewhere around $400 million, from some very well-known names. Ebay, Fed-Ex and Googleare said to be testing Bloom Boxes now to power their corporate campuses.

Here’s what we need to know: how it works and what it will cost. Fuel cells aren’t a new concept; they generate power through a chemical reaction, but Bloom isn’t revealing what’s in its secret sauce. Sure, the boxes can put out juice, but it’s hard to tell now if they’re affordable. And with an up-front cost of more than a half-million dollars, Bloom Box power will need to be substantially cheaper than other options to make this a viable product.

We would be thrilled if our initial skepticism was proven unfounded, but then we also fell, briefly, for cold fusion.