See How The Dutch Are Generating 100% Sustainable Electricity From Plants

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Do you want to use your green roof to power your house? Would you like to see each wetland and rice paddy field in the world turned into a power plant without harvesting the plants?

These are the questions to which Dutch start-up company, Plant-e, have the answers. Founded in 2009 as a spin-off from the sub-department of Environmental Technology of Wageningen University, the company is headed by CEO Marjolein Helder, PhD., and assistant professor David Strik, a team aiming to provide renewable energy to areas of the world that have no access to electricity, which is about 1.4 billion people currently.

Their concept is simple yet incredible, and this is how it works:

When a plant creates food using photosynthesis, a large portion of the organic matter generated is actually excreted by the roots into the soil. That same organic matter then gets consumed by microorganisms living in the soil, which release electrons as a byproduct of this consumption. By placing an electrode near the roots, it then becomes easy to harvest this waste energy and turn it into electricity.Plant-e-Harnesses-the-Energy-in-Plants-to-Power-Lights-470200-3

In addition, the plants are left unharmed during the entire process. In fact, tests show that the plants will continue to grow normally in the presence of electrodes, providing a constant source of power day and night. Combined with lamps powered by salt water, off-grid locations may have access to sustainable energy sooner than predicted, and areas unsuitable for growing crops could be repurposed as a power source!

All of this simply through the use of light, carbon-dioxide, and water. Can we get some applause for the Dutch, please?
At present, a prototype green roof utilizing this technology is already being developed and tested in the Netherlands. If all goes well, the Plant-e team hopes to utilize this system to harvest a significant amount of energy – maybe even enough to power a house.

The Plant-e modular square foot garden, perfect for those without garden space.

The Plant-e modular square foot garden, perfect for those without garden space.

Plant-e also has plans to release a modular square-foot mini garden that can grow herbs and vegetables while harvesting enough energy to power small electronics, as well as a DIY Plant-e box kit to be used in workshops or for practical lessons in schools.
To follow Plant-e and their latest updates, be sure to check out their website HERE.
What are your thoughts on this sustainable energy innovation? Share with us in the comment section below!
Source: True Activist

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 About the author

Jeff Roberts

Blogger/Aspiring Author/Scare-Junkie – Writing and blogging my way at CE since 2013. It’s been an incredible journey, to say the least. Journalistically, my interests are wide, including technological innovation and sustainability, health and fitness, plant medicine and more, but my true passion is simply telling someone’s story. If I can help translate and narrate someone’s life story and do it the justice it deserves, then I am complete. On a lighter note, I dream of one day being an accomplished screenwriter and novelist. I love all things scary, as well as my two cats. Three words to describe myself? Honest, compassionate, jokester. If you have a question or want to chat, hit me up at jeff@collective-evolution.com, or follow me on Twitter and Facebook! “You are responsible for your own happiness, so why live a life you don’t love?”

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/08/12/see-how-the-dutch-are-generating-100-sustainable-electricity-from-plants/

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