Researchers from Glasgow University are trying to create a
special kind of leaf that is able to produce liquid fuel. If it
works, the invention could help to slow down climate change.
Normal leaves take energy from the sun and turn it into food in
a process called photosynthesis. The special leaf would take solar
energy, as well as electricity, and turn it into fuel instead.
When we burn fossil fuels, like oil, carbon dioxide (CO2) is
released into the atmosphere. When leaves photosynthesis, they use
up CO2. If people burned the fuel produced by the special leaves,
the carbon dioxide would be released again but it would not add
extra CO2 to the air in the way that burning oil does.
Burning petrol produces carbon
dioxide, a greenhouse gas
The 'leaf' that the scientists want to make won't actually look
anything like a real leaf. Instead, it will consist of a tank full
of water containing genetically-modified bacteria. But the system
will work in a similar way to natural photosynthesis in plants.
"The sun gives its energy away for free but making use of it is
tricky," said Professor Richard Cogdell, who is in charge of the
project.
We can use solar panels to make electricity. We can also use
turbines to trap energy from wind and waves. But electricity can't
be stored. Professor Codgell's team think their 'leaves' would give
us a way to bottle up the sun's energy so that we can use it
whenever we need it. The new technology may be ready in about five
years.
How are we tackling climate change?
Billions of pounds are spent every year on attempts to find ways
to reduce greenhouse gases and slow down climate change. Special
'leaves' that use a process similar to photosynthesis to create a
carbon-neutral fuel is just one of the latest.
Although greenhouse gas emissions in the UK have fallen by more
than a quarter since 1990, what happens in our country is only a
tiny part of the global picture.
In 2010 the world's emissions of CO2 rose by almost 6%, the
biggest increase ever recorded, largely because more coal was
burned in China and India. According to a UN report, carrying on at
this rate will leave the world a massive 12 gigatonnes of carbon
short of needed reductions by 2020.
Global CO2 emissions rose 6% in
2010, mainly due to countries burning more coal
The United Nations climate talks in Durban, South Africa, late
last year ended in a deal committing countries to sign up to a
treaty on cutting carbon emissions by 2015.
It is the first time that major polluters the USA, China and
India have signed up to a process that will result in a
legally-binding agreement to cut their emissions.
But critics say that the deal is too little too late - the
treaty would not come into effect until 2020.
Try our climate change quiz and find out how much you know about
this global problem.
I'm sorry, it appears you do not have flash installed.