Plant-e: Living Plants Generate Electricity
Geschreven op 30-10-2010 - Erik van Erne. Geplaatst in Duurzaam, Energie en Besparing
Plant-e develops products in which living plants generate electricity. These products are based technology that was developed at Wageningen University, which was patented in 2007. The patent is now held by Plant-e.
The technology enables us to produce electricity from living plants at practically every site where plants can grow. The technology is based on natural processes and doesn’t harm the plant or its environment.
Via photosynthesis a plant produces organic matter. Part of this organic matter is used for plant-growth, but a large part can’t be used by the plant and is excreted into the soil via the roots. Around the roots naturally occuring micro-organisms break down the organic compounds to gain energy from. In this process, electrons are released as a waste product. By providing an electrode for the micro-organisms to donate their electrons to, the electrons can be harvested as electricity. Research has shown that plant-growth isn’t compromised by harvesting electricity, so plants keep on growing while electricity is concurrently produced.
Plant-e is a company that develops and produces products in which living plants generate electricity. The company was founded on September 14, 2009 as a spin-off from the sub-department of Environmental Technology of Wageningen University by David Strik and Marjolein Helder. Both David and Marjolein work part-time as researcher and part-time as entrepreneur to develop fundamental technology and products based on the technology at the same time.
Plant-e is still in the product-development stage. However, a first large-scale demonstration project is about to start at the cradle to cradle building of NIOO for a proof-of-principle for the “electricity producing green roof”. Many applications for the technology can be thought of. The electricity that is generated via the Plant-e technology is low-voltage direct current, which is harmless to humans, animals and plants. Moreover, low-voltage direct current can directly be applied to charge batteries, cell-phones and laptops and power LED-lights. The first Plant-e products are to be expected in 2013. Source: Plant-e
MANOJ PARMAR zegt:
27 december 2010 om 04:03 | Permalink
I was dicussing with my freind yesterday 26/12/2010 on topic elcetricity or light can be harvested from plants.It is wonderful that you people have already started the project on it.It is sure that in future in place of poles,trees will be used and light bulbs and tubes will be placed on trees or leaves will emit light.
Best of luck.
Erik van Erne zegt:
8 augustus 2018 om 17:27 | Permalink
Plant-e Battery Charging
Plant-e battery charging. Green energy from plants. Watch how we power a LED light with plant power.