Life on earth is sustained by two fundamental sources of energy, solar radiation and stored fossil energy. These two energy sources power the food supply as well as the mechanical energy and raw materials for industry and the electrical energy for appliances. Over the last 100 years there has been a steady increase in the reliance on fossil energy to power not just mechanical devices such as cars and generators but also to provide raw materials for virtually every consumer product. Fossil fuels have become an essential part of our lifestyle. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels is not sustainable.

The SMART greenPATH Centre has the ambitious goal of providing the basic science and technology required to move towards the sustainable and wide-spread use of renewable resources.

1. High energy fuels (beyond ethanol) for powering our machines.
2. Sustainable feedstock for industries ranging from plastics, to textiles, to pharmaceuticals.

The SMART greenPath Centre has assembled a team of scientists working to harness biological energy conversion processes from the dynamics of enzyme activity to the foundations of bioenergetics. The basic science goals are supported by expert instrument designers and analytical chemists, lead by Professor Anthony Sinskey.