With big cities wasting money and energy in displaying their gleaming lifestyle, there are still such places that fight everyday to have a reliable source of electricity. That is why to offer a practical and affordable solution, researchers at Peru’s Universidad de Ingeniería y Tecnología (UTEC) has developed a remarkable piece of technology that uses plants and bacteria to create electricity. To combat the real problem faced by local tribes and rainforest communities of Peru, the team has created Plant Lamp, the innovative and revolutionary lamp that technically draws its power from microorganisms in the soil that are released by plants as they grow.
Plant Lamp
Enthused by the real-world problem, i.e., shortage of electricity in remote areas of Peru, especially the tropical forest area, the team of researchers from UTEC decided to help natives and local residents of Peru by offering them safe and clean alternative of kerosene lamp that generates harmful fumes.
Project Plant Lamp
The lamp developed by the team of teachers and students is capable of supplying two hours of light per day through low energy consumption and high-illumination LED lamp. Designed to operate by the energy stored in soil-containing microorganism and nutrients released by plants while growing, the lamp feeds the free electrons released by microorganism thus creating sustainable light.
Design
Created by using wooden plant pot, LED bulb and plants, the lamp can be easily powered by any household plant. The simple yet powerful lamp is fabricated to use energy stored in soil and is ideal to hold single plant in it. The lamp producing ample light to do daily chores is a faultless alternative renewable energy generating system that helps residents to continue their work without breathing harmful kerosene fumes.
Functioning
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Supporting a simple and easy to use design, the wooden pot is fitted with energy generation system that stores soil and electrodes, which are capable of converting plant nutrients into energy. Each unit consists of a planter with an electrode grid buried in the soil. The grid connects to a battery which powers a large LED lamp attached to an adjustable arm outside the box.
Team
Fashioned by team of 11 researchers, including teachers and eight students, 20 lamps are distributed among the families for communal use. However, the biggest task of the campaign is to raise enough funds to take 100 more lamps. Currently the team of UTEC is looking for donors and sponsors to provide a practical solution to the real problem in the Peruvian jungle.
Collaboration
For long terms results the team of UTEC has also collaborated with global ad agency FCB to produce 20 fully functional prototypes and help the team to discover a way to generate clean energy for the villagers. The lamps supporting renewable energy technology not only promotes sustainable and healthy living, but also if produced in mass can be great news for lot of people around the globe, especially for developing countries 1
Beneficiaries
First provided to the native community of Nuevo Saposa, an ethnic group called the Shipibo Conibo, which is noted for having the lowest rate of access to electricity. According to Jessica Ruas, UTEC Marketing Director, being prone to flood and natural calamities, the absence of electric energy has a major impact on their social, educational and family development. However, the prototype will surely hemp them leading normal life.
Summary
Plant Lamp created by teachers and students of UTEC not only helps rainforest communities to have electricity from plants and bacteria but also promotes and supports sustainable living.