Biological solar panels: Future is plant generated electricity

A Swiss designer and some Cambridge university researchers have actually generated electricity from plants (read moss) and have powered a radio device for around 1.30 seconds.

Moss FM from Fabienne Felder on Vimeo.

How it started?

As dezeen states, on one side, Cambridge university researcher Paolo Bombelli was working on Photo microbial fuel cells (MFCs) from some time.

On other, a Swiss designer Fabienne Felder was getting interested in a design of Moss table for her new design idea. She wanted to use the green technology for her new inspirational idea of moss-filled aircraft cabin.

While researching on this topic she found the research papers of Dr Bombelli and went to meet him.

Bombelli liked the idea of a moss-powered airplane and started a pilot study with a fellow professor Ross Dennis and Fabienne Felder.

Moss powered Radio

[caption id="attachment_806" align="alignnone" width="634"] Screengrab of vimeo video[/caption]

Until now, the researchers have only scratched the surface. They themselves state that they have only generated 0.1 percent of electricity from moss used.

“At the moment we can achieve the following electrical output: 
The current radio run time via a re-chargeable battery lasts a few minutes.” said the researchers on dezeen.

However, they are positive about the project and feel that one day Fabienne will be able to lighten up an aircraft all based on moss.

Design

[caption id="attachment_807" align="alignnone" width="634"] Another screen grab of Vimeo video[/caption]

Moss FM radio is made up of ten Photo MFCs. They can be connected either serially or parallel or in combination depending on the performance of each cell.

Future possibilities

However, it is just a tiny discovery yet it holds a lot of value and criteria for further developments.

It is said that if 25 percent people living in London use moss to charge their phone sets they will be able to save enough energy to lighten up a small town that is 42.5 million kilo watt-hour or 6.81 million euro.

That is just one aspect.

Apart from it, what if all those buildings that are going green – growing plants on walls and roof tops – if they start using the same concept they will be able to lighten themselves up all centered on biological solar panels.

Can only moss produce electricity?

No, the researchers say any plant can be used to produce electricity. However, moss has a special quality of producing electrons in surplus amount owing to this quality they are more suitable.

Another reason of moss is that the plant is undervalued and not wanted by the public. When in reality moss not only provides better insulation but also pollution reduction and water purification.

What do you think about this discovery do yo think it will be able to help curb power crisis in Pakistan?