Photosynthesis Vs Solar Panels

While photosynthesis is a plant based chemical process solar cells or photovoltaic cells are man made and convert solar energy into electricity.

Photosynthesis vs solar panels.

Solar cells release short lived electrons when. One major difference is that solar panels only rely on the sunlight. Photosynthesis transforms solar energy into the chemical energy of a carbohydrate. Which are better to capture solar energy.

Photosynthesis is less efficient than solar panels. In photosynthesis the conversion of energy helps create oxygen water and glucose. Most commercially available solar panels have more than 10 times this efficiency. Much like a plant uses its chlorophyll to harness its energy.

According to the wikipedia page on photosynthetic efficiency typical plants have a radiant energy to chemical energy conversion efficiency between 0 1 and 2. Determining the relative efficiency of photosynthesis and photovoltaics is not a simple problem by david biello on may 12 2011.