University of Toronto | Solar Fuels Cluster

University and Industry Partners

The long term objective of the research of U of T Solar Fuels Cluster is to function as a hub for a global network of solar fuels scientists, engineers and industry partners. The network we have built encompasses nationally and internationally renowned scientists, engineers and economists, working in fields that include:

1. Photochemistry and photoelectrochemistry of nanoscale inorganic materials directed towards the generation of solar fuels;
2. Design of solar fuel materials tailored to catalyze specific reactions by combining high-performance computation with precise synthetic chemistry;
3. Development of theory, models and algorithms for the solution of fundamental and practical problems in the area of solar fuels process development, assessment and production; and
4. Environmental economics and emissions trading aspects of climate change and renewable energy.

The U of T Solar Fuels Cluster will deepen collaborations with national and international industry partners, the ultimate goal being to facilitate the transition of laboratory-scale solar fuels experiments to a prototype pilot demonstration unit that will be instrumental for the development of an efficient and scalable technology to provide future generations with sustainable solar chemicals fuels using CO₂ as feed stock.

As the collaboration with Industry Partners progresses, the U of T Solar Fuels Cluster and our Industrial Partners will also need to communicate to politicians and governments the viability of this CO₂-to-fuel conversion strategy and to persuade them to adopt it as a goal. At the same time, the public should be informed and educated that this strategy is a viable economic and environmental solution to reduce greenhouse gases.