The Electrifying Future: Plants that Light Up Our World

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23 Mar 2024

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In a world where the search for renewable energy has become a race against the clock, a group of Italian scientists from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Pisa has taken a giant step towards what could be the definitive solution for a renewable energy. sustainable: plants that generate electricity.

This team of researchers has developed a system that takes advantage of the electricity naturally produced by plant leaves. When moving or coming into contact with other materials, the leaves undergo an electrification process that extends from the branches to the stem. The amazing thing is that a single leaf can generate up to 150 volts, enough to power 100 LED bulbs.
Imagine a world where forests are not only green lungs that absorb carbon dioxide, but also living power plants that power entire cities. The researchers have taken this idea a step further by creating a hybrid tree with artificial leaves that, when touching the natural ones, multiply the electricity generated. This breakthrough could literally transform the way we view nature and our interaction with it.
In addition, another project called Elowan has explored the possibility of using plants on wheels with sensors attached to the leaves to generate bioelectrochemical signals that drive the robotic system towards the light, thus harnessing the plants' energy in a dynamic and autonomous way.

The companies that lead the plant projects that generate electricity are mainly research and development institutions. For example, the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Pisa is at the forefront of developing systems that harness the electricity produced by plant leaves. In addition, the Growbot project, funded by the European Union, seeks to develop bioinspired robots that grow autonomously.

In the business field, Bioelectrica is a prominent company that leads in the development of clean energy generation projects from renewable sources and anaerobic digestion processes, promoting the circular economy and sustainability.

Innovation in Peru

In Peru, the Alinti enterprise, created by Ayacucho civil engineer Hernán Asto, is researching and developing technologies to generate electricity from the photosynthesis of plants. This project has been recognized at the APEC Forum, where it was awarded the Bio-Circular Verde award in the MSME category, for its contribution to sustainability and the production of electricity from photosynthesis.

Alinti is a device that, thanks to photosynthesis, captures electrons expelled by the roots of plants and stores them in a battery. This system not only provides electrical energy but also benefits homes by cleaning the air, eliminating toxic substances such as benzene and ammonia.
These discoveries not only promise to revolutionize agribusiness, but also have the potential to change energy production as we know it. The European Union, through the Growbot project, has recognized the importance of these advances by funding research to develop bioinspired robots that grow autonomously.