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Plants could soon provide our electricity. In a small way they already are doing that in research labs and greenhouses at project Plant-e — a university and commercially sponsored research group at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

The Plant Microbial Fuel Cell from Plant-e can generate electricity from the natural interaction between plant roots and soil bacteria. It works by taking advantage of the up to 70 percent of organic material produced by a plant’s photo-synthesis process that cannot be used by the plant — and is excreted through the roots.

As natural occurring bacteria around the roots break down this organic residue, electrons are released as a waste product. By placing an electrode close to the bacteria to absorb these electrons, the research team — led by Marjolein Helder PhD — is able to generate electricity.

Helder said: “Solar panels are making more energy per square meter — but we expect to reduce the costs of our system technology in the future. And our system can be used for a variety of applications.”

Plant Microbial Fuel Cells can be used on many scales. An experimental 15 square meter model can produce enough energy to power a computer notebook. Plant-e is working on a system for large scale electricity production in existing green areas like wetlands and rice paddy fields.

Uses for this valuable technology.

Helder said: “Our technology is making electricity — but also could be used as roof insulation or as a water collector. On a bigger scale it’s possible to produce rice and electricity at the same time, and in that way combine food and energy production.”

A first prototype of a green electricity roof has been installed on one building at Wageningen University and researchers are keeping a close eye on what is growing there. The first field pilots will be started in 2014. The tech was patented in 2007.

After 5 years of lab research: Plant-e is now taking the first steps toward commercializing the technology. In the future, bio-electricity from plants could produce as much as 3.2 watts per square meter of plant growth.

with materials from: EuroNews

on the web | pages

Plant-e | home

Plant-e | YouTube channel

read | brochure

format: Adobe

watch | featurette

Plant-e is making electricity from plants

watch | videos

Plant-e | video: animation

Plant-e | video: the power of plants

Plant-e | video: the next step in development

on the web | research

Wageningen Univ. | home

Wageningen Univ. | research institutes: plant research

Wageningen Univ. | research institutes: centre for development innovation

Wageningen Univ. | story: Dutch Innovation Award for Plant-e

[ story file ]

story title: digest | Plant-e: roots, shoots, leaves — electricity from living plants

deck: Combining food + energy production.

year: 2019

section: digest

[ end of file ]