Can photonics decarbonise our world?

Antanas Laurutis claims that photonic technologies can decarbonise the electricity and communication industries, which are among the biggest CO2 emitters globally. By 2030, he argues, these technologies can reduce CO2 emissions by 3 billion tons every year, which equals removing 22.2 million diesel trucks off the road

In our quest for green energy, one of the most powerful tools at our disposal is something we often take for granted: light. Photonics, the science of light, is quietly changing industries, and transforming our approach to sustainability.  

Just try to picture a life where your home is powered by indoor solar panels capturing sunlight streaming through your windows, and optical communication transfers data at lightning speed with minimal energy consumption. It’s already happening.

How photonics can be applied to create green energy

The application of photonics in sustainable practices is already delivering various benefits, such as reducing CO₂ emissions and enhancing energy efficiency. For example, it’s used in photovoltaic (PV) systems – solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. Another significant area is optical communication – systems that transmit data using light. 

Households and commercial buildings account for 30% of global energy consumption and emissions, and most of them are not run on green technologies. But that can change. We envision homes that will be 100% green – with the use of PV systems, we will no longer rely on fossil fuels.

We have to adopt these technologies to reach zero-emission targets and photonics has proven that it can help us achieve that.

A study suggests that photonics applications could contribute to 3 billion tons less CO₂ output per year by 2030, equivalent to 22.2 million diesel trucks driving 100,000 miles each. Similarly, optical communication reduces energy needs for data transfer, saving an estimated 40 million tons of CO₂ emissions yearly.

That means that with the advance of technology, somewhere in 10 years, we can completely remove those polluting diesel trucks off the roads, replacing them with PV-run electric trucks. We can build a huge network of solar-powered charging stations and thus decrease our reliance on diesel. Photonic technology will be integrated into those stations, and trucks will be able to charge batteries with renewable energy on their long trips.

Optical communication can help data centres cut CO₂ emissions by 75%

Photonics is also contributing to sustainable energy initiatives through optical communication. Society has become more digital, hence there is an increasing need for data transfer. Traditional data centres that rely on electronic communication are notorious for their high energy consumption contributing to approximately 330 million metric tons of CO₂.

Photonics presents a viable alternative. Using light to transmit information makes optical communication more energy-efficient than conventional approaches. Optical fibres that transmit information using light pulses have been found to be able to send signals over long distances with negligible losses in terms of power consumed in transmission. This not only increases transmission speeds but also greatly reduces energy consumption thereby helping us bring down CO₂ emission rates by as much as 75%.

Think about when all our vast digital networks would operate purely on light thus reducing even further the carbon footprints on every sent email, every streaming video, and every stored data piece. Moving towards optical communication would undoubtedly lead to great changes in how we handle data resulting in eco-friendly returns on investments.

Annual power savings could be so amazing that they would eventually reduce CO₂ emission levels by up to 40 million tons each year, and this would resemble taking nearly 8 million cars off the roads. The advantages would extend beyond just the tech sector. Industries whose operations rely upon data processing could similarly cut their expenses and reduce ecological impact.  

Overcoming challenges and looking ahead

Sure, adopting photonic technologies does not come without challenges. The ones that stand out are high initial costs and big investments in infrastructure. Governments from third-world countries that have limited resources are concerned about the scalability of the photonic technologies.

These, however, are solvable issues. Countries can join efforts in constant investment, appropriate policies, and international cooperation to share technologies or sell them at a discount to whoever needs them most. In this respect, governments and the private sectors should collaborate in funding research and providing subsidies for photonic technologies to those who cannot afford them.

Photonics is one of the best tools in our battle against climate change. The study of light provides us with effective methods to cut CO₂ emissions, transform energy usage, and build a lasting global infrastructure. Our job now is to see photonics’ potential and put it to work where it counts most – in our houses, factories, and power grids. But we have to ask: will we move fast enough to make the most of this chance?

Antanas Laurutis is CEO of Altechna. Altechna, led by venture capital fund LitCapital, is a Lithuania-based company specialising in laser optics and optomechanical assemblies for high-power laser production.