Solar fuels and photosynthesis: Overview
How sunlight becomes food, wood and perhaps one day jet fuel
What this tile covers Sunlight stored as chemical energy, in crops and forests or in fuels made by artificial photosynthesis. Share of use 0% share of world energy supply (2024)Share of world total energy supply captured or extracted by each method, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method); electricity from wind, solar, hydro and geothermal is counted at output, nuclear at reactor heat. Heat and biomass flows outside EI's total are set against the same 592.2 EJ. Artificial solar fuels are at research or pilot stage. Photosynthetic energy used by people is counted under the bioenergy tiles, so it is not repeated here. Source: A solar tower fuel plant for the thermochemical production of kerosene from H2O and CO2 (Zoller et al., Joule), Cell Press.
Key facts
| Output | Fuel / chemicals |
Included from the reference tables
- Photosynthesis (agriculture and forestry)
- Photoelectrochemical water splitting
- Artificial photosynthesis
- Solar thermochemical reactors (research)
Also in Solar
PV Solar photovoltaicsCSP Concentrated solar powerSHC Solar heat collectorsPas Passive solar and natural coolingExplore paths from here
More on this tile in the tabs above: efficiency, techniques, resources and labour, impact on the biosphere.