The article discusses the challenges and opportunities in utilizing solar energy for sustainable power. With global energy demand projected to double by mid-century, solar energy, the largest renewable resource, must be stored and dispatched on demand. A promising approach is storing solar energy in chemical bonds through artificial photosynthesis, which could produce fuels like hydrogen, methane, or methanol. This process requires capturing and converting solar energy, producing oxygen from water and a reduced fuel. Scientific challenges include developing efficient methods for solar capture, conversion, and storage, as well as creating new materials and catalysts for these processes. The article highlights the need for carbon-neutral energy sources to meet future energy demands while limiting atmospheric CO₂ levels. Current fossil fuels are insufficient due to their high carbon intensity and environmental impact. Nuclear fission, carbon capture and storage, and renewable energy are potential solutions, but none are sufficient on their own. Solar energy, in particular, offers a vast resource but requires significant advancements in storage and conversion technologies. The article emphasizes the importance of basic science in developing efficient solar energy systems. This includes improving photovoltaic efficiency, developing new materials for solar capture and conversion, and creating effective catalysts for water splitting and fuel production. The challenge lies in achieving high efficiency and low cost for these processes. Additionally, the article discusses the need for a deep understanding of reaction chemistry, particularly in the context of water splitting and CO₂ reduction, to enable the development of sustainable energy systems. The article concludes that solar energy has a unique role in sustainable energy production due to its vast resource base. However, to be a viable primary energy source, solar energy must be captured, converted, and stored to overcome the diurnal cycle and intermittency of the solar resource. Significant advances in basic science are needed to achieve this, with chemistry playing a crucial role in developing new materials and catalysts for solar energy utilization.The article discusses the challenges and opportunities in utilizing solar energy for sustainable power. With global energy demand projected to double by mid-century, solar energy, the largest renewable resource, must be stored and dispatched on demand. A promising approach is storing solar energy in chemical bonds through artificial photosynthesis, which could produce fuels like hydrogen, methane, or methanol. This process requires capturing and converting solar energy, producing oxygen from water and a reduced fuel. Scientific challenges include developing efficient methods for solar capture, conversion, and storage, as well as creating new materials and catalysts for these processes. The article highlights the need for carbon-neutral energy sources to meet future energy demands while limiting atmospheric CO₂ levels. Current fossil fuels are insufficient due to their high carbon intensity and environmental impact. Nuclear fission, carbon capture and storage, and renewable energy are potential solutions, but none are sufficient on their own. Solar energy, in particular, offers a vast resource but requires significant advancements in storage and conversion technologies. The article emphasizes the importance of basic science in developing efficient solar energy systems. This includes improving photovoltaic efficiency, developing new materials for solar capture and conversion, and creating effective catalysts for water splitting and fuel production. The challenge lies in achieving high efficiency and low cost for these processes. Additionally, the article discusses the need for a deep understanding of reaction chemistry, particularly in the context of water splitting and CO₂ reduction, to enable the development of sustainable energy systems. The article concludes that solar energy has a unique role in sustainable energy production due to its vast resource base. However, to be a viable primary energy source, solar energy must be captured, converted, and stored to overcome the diurnal cycle and intermittency of the solar resource. Significant advances in basic science are needed to achieve this, with chemistry playing a crucial role in developing new materials and catalysts for solar energy utilization.