There are many communities and people around the world who do not have electricity. In the 21st century, it is almost impossible to imagine life without electricity: without being able to use their cell phone, have internet, refrigerate food or even something as basic as light at night. For these communities, the lack of light is something that affects not only the quality of life, but also health and education. Understanding this reality has led to the search for innovative solutions that allow light to be brought to these places in a sustainable way.
One of these revolutionary inventions is the plantlamp, which emerges as a sustainable alternative to provide light in indigenous communities in Latin America.
Obtaining light through plants
La plantlamp is an innovative device that uses plant photosynthesis to generate electricity. Based on biodesign principles, this device can illuminate an LED lamp with up to 300 lumens, which is approximately equivalent to a 50-watt bulb. This invention seeks to meet the needs of communities such as the ethnic group Shipibo Conibo in Nuevo Saposoa, a remote area of the Peruvian Amazon with limited access to energy resources.
New Saposoa is a community formed by 137 families and about 37 inhabitants. It is located in an area of difficult access, since you have to navigate the rivers of the region for five hours to get there. Before a hurricane destroyed the electrical infrastructure, they had electricity, but since then they have lived in darkness, something common in several regions of the Amazon, where the 42% of the population does not have access to electricity.
In response to this situation, the team of researchers at the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) In Lima, Peru, a project was started to analyse the quality of the soil and water in the region, in order to design a solution based on local vegetation. This is how the Plantalámpara was born.
Operation of the planter lamp
The functioning of the plant lamp is based on a natural process: photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants absorb CO2 and release oxygen, while the roots excrete excess nutrients. These plant wastes are used by geobacteria, microorganisms present in the soil that live without oxygen. By consuming nutrients, geobacteria generate electrons, which are captured by electrodes placed in a wooden box where the plant is planted.
In this way, the electrodes convert the energy released by the bacteria into electricity that is stored in a battery. This battery, which is recharged during the day, can power an LED lamp for a maximum time of 10 minutes. two hours, sufficient for lighting a medium-sized room.
The device is not only a renewable alternative, but also a clean one, as it combats the use of unhealthy methods such as kerosene lamps, which generate smoke that is harmful to health. In particular, this technology is designed so that children can study in the dark, families can cook safely, or so that daily activities are not affected by the lack of light.
Research and Development
The university of Wageningen, the Netherlands, has developed a similar system called Plant-eThis project is based on the same principle of capturing electrons generated by bacteria living in plant roots. The system requires plants in moist soil or in buckets of water, an ideal environment for bacterial growth. This opens up the possibility that more communities can benefit from using plants to generate electricity in a self-sustaining way.
Furthermore, although we have a variety of plant species, not all plants generate the same amount of energy. The larger ones with tuberous roots, such as potatoes, are usually more efficient in energy production.
Social impact and sustainability
The first beneficiaries of the lamp plant have been the families of New SaposoaThe creation of this device has not only improved their quality of life by allowing them to carry out nighttime activities, but has also had a positive impact on the education of children, who can now study during the hours of darkness.
The project is part of a larger initiative called Light up the jungle, led by UTEC, which seeks to raise awareness about the importance of light and access to electricity in the most remote areas of the world. 'lampplant' They were delivered to local communities in October, following an extensive study of the quality of soil, water and local flora, which made it possible to create a device adapted to the specific conditions of the area.
The ultimate goal of these technological developments is to ensure that more remote populations can access clean, renewable energy sources., taking advantage of local natural resources in a sustainable manner and without harming the environment.
These kinds of innovations show how science and engineering can solve social challenges, providing sustainable and accessible solutions for isolated communities. The future of renewable energy may be closer than we think, thanks to the ability of plants to generate light.