Could grow lights soon be obsolete?

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dr.smiley

Member
I ran across this article today about artificial photosynthesis and am interested in the implications this could have on cannabis cultivation.
If we are able to artificially cause photosynthesis grow lights could quite possibly become obsolete. Not only is this process more efficient than traditional photosynthesis (the article claims up to 18 times more efficient) but would also allow for you to grow a flowering plant next to a plant in a vegetative state.
Just curious what everyones thoughts are. Do you think this could be the future of growing?
https://scitechdaily-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/scitechdaily.com/artificial-photosynthesis-can-produce-food-in-complete-darkness/amp/?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16562599202948&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fscitechdaily.com%2Fartificial-photosynthesis-can-produce-food-in-complete-darkness%2F
 
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xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
And all you need is a bunch of very expensive equipment.


“Using a state-of-the-art two-step tandem CO2 electrolysis setup developed in our laboratory, we were able to achieve a high selectivity towards acetate that cannot be accessed through conventional CO2 electrolysis routes,” said corresponding author Feng Jiao at University of Delaware.

In order to integrate all the components of the system together, the output of the electrolyzer was optimized to support the growth of food-producing organisms. Electrolyzers are devices that use electricity to convert raw materials like carbon dioxide into useful molecules and products. The amount of acetate produced was increased while the amount of salt used was decreased, resulting in the highest levels of acetate ever produced in an electrolyzer to date.

scitechdaily.com

Artificial Photosynthesis Can Produce Food in Complete Darkness

Artificial photosynthesis is being developed by researchers to help make food production more energy-efficient on Earth, and maybe one day on Mars. For millions of years, photosynthesis has evolved in plants to turn water, carbon dioxide, and the energy from sunlight into plant biomass and the f
scitechdaily.com
 
D

dr.smiley

Member
xtsho said:
And all you need is a bunch of very expensive equipment.


“Using a state-of-the-art two-step tandem CO2 electrolysis setup developed in our laboratory, we were able to achieve a high selectivity towards acetate that cannot be accessed through conventional CO2 electrolysis routes,” said corresponding author Feng Jiao at University of Delaware.

In order to integrate all the components of the system together, the output of the electrolyzer was optimized to support the growth of food-producing organisms. Electrolyzers are devices that use electricity to convert raw materials like carbon dioxide into useful molecules and products. The amount of acetate produced was increased while the amount of salt used was decreased, resulting in the highest levels of acetate ever produced in an electrolyzer to date.

scitechdaily.com

Artificial Photosynthesis Can Produce Food in Complete Darkness

Artificial photosynthesis is being developed by researchers to help make food production more energy-efficient on Earth, and maybe one day on Mars. For millions of years, photosynthesis has evolved in plants to turn water, carbon dioxide, and the energy from sunlight into plant biomass and the f
scitechdaily.com
Click to expand...
You're right that at this time it would likely not be cost effective and it may be some time before that changes. However the goal of these experiments is to implement it in agricultural settings and if it would be profitable to grow beans it would be certainly be cost effective to grow buds.
 
Drop That Sound

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
You can flower out a branch from a plant that is vegging BTW. Partition it off separately, and give it's own light schedule.

A fellow member on IC mag did it a few years ago, and documented the whole grow.. :eek:
 
Drop That Sound

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
It makes me think about..

What if we did the opposite, and STOP photosynthesis from happening.

Then we could trick plants into the dark cycle while the sun is still shining..

Like light dep, without the shade cloths!
 
xtsho

xtsho

Well-Known Member
dr.smiley said:
You're right that at this time it would likely not be cost effective and it may be some time before that changes. However the goal of these experiments is to implement it in agricultural settings and if it would be profitable to grow beans it would be certainly be cost effective to grow buds.
Click to expand...
It takes electricity for the process to work. At any scale the energy costs are going to significant. Beans can grow outdoors in the sun. That alone will make it so it's never profitable just due to the added cost of electricity vs the free energy of the sun. Not to mention structures would be needed to maintain darkness.

Best use case would be future space exploration. Other than that it's definitely some neat science but not practical.

Here's the complete study.

www.nature.com

A hybrid inorganic–biological artificial photosynthesis system for energy-efficient food production - Nature Food

Coupling a two-step electrochemical system that converts CO2 to acetate with photovoltaics increases solar-to-food energy conversion efficiency, providing an alternative route to produce food from carbon dioxide and electricity, independent of biological photosynthesis.
www.nature.com www.nature.com
 
Drop That Sound

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
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"UD researchers used a two-step carbon dioxide electrolyzer system to produce a chemical compound called acetate. Electrolyzers are devices that use electricity to convert raw materials like carbon dioxide into useful molecules and products. Acetate is a common ingredient found in household items, such as vinegar, cosmetics and hair care products. But here, acetate was used to cultivate yeast, mushroom-producing fungus and photosynthetic green algae in the dark, without photosynthesis."




So technically they could just skip some the 2 step c02 electrolyzer setup, and refine the acetate from vinegar or hair products?

If its so common than why aren't we growing plants in the dark with it already?
 
Drop That Sound

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
Started building an HHO electolyzer to pump brown gas into an RDWC system in my green house.

I got a stack of stainless steel wall switch receptical plates to make the cells (you have to flash heat/cool them to de-magnetize from the machining process first), but kinda lost interest on the project..

Simply using electrolysis to split the water back into hydrogen and oxygen, but not enough to blow up your grow room or anything.

Figured I might be able to get all the o2 the roots need without noisy air pumps or waterfalls :)
 
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