Background
Among renewable energy sources, solar energy is the leading alternative to fossil fuels, with the SEIA reporting that solar accounted for 40% of all new energy capacity in the United States in 2019, the largest of any energy source. However, the production process for current silicon solar panels is costly and produces toxic byproducts, like silicon tetrachloride. In contrast, biological photovoltaics leverage the natural process of photosynthesis for energy production, while capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. With this in mind, biological photovoltaics have the potential to make solar energy more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective.
Project
We aim to utilize the natural photosynthesis of cyanobacteria to generate current. By introducing a non-native extracellular electron transfer (EET) pathway, we can engineer cyanobacteria that can exchange electrons with an electrode. This approach would be preferable to current solar panels by eliminating the use of toxic metals and the expensive refinement of silicon, while also having the ability to capture carbon dioxide. Our project, CytoSolar, will focus on incorporating parts of the Mtr pathway, an extracellular electron transfer pathway from Shewanella oneidensis, into Synechocystis PCC 6803, a model cyanobacterium.
Subteams
Our project involves four subteams, each with specific goals.
- For wetlab, we plan to engineer an EET mechanism into Synechocystis PCC 6803 and optimize the system by modifying protein and chemical electron carriers. and create a model solar cell to demonstrate the system’s ability to generate photocurrent.
- The drylab team plans to conduct a flux balance analysis modeling the transfer of electrons and construct a prototype solar cell to demonstrate CytoSolar’s ability to generate photocurrent.
- For human practices, we plan to gauge consumer and manufacturer interest, engage with local stakeholders, and discuss the potential of CytoSolar with people in the field.
- The Wiki subteam maintains this website and the eventual iGEM wiki, and designs figures.