These Guys Figured Out How to Turn House Plants Into Phone Chargers
(UR) Barcelona, Spain — Solar power, as we know, is a great source of energy: it’s renewable, it comes from the sun — the list goes on. Unlike humans, nature has “known” that the sun is a fantastic energy generator for, well, ever. Photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert solar power into chemical energy and nutrition, has even been an inspiration for scientific research into solar electricity. For one Barcelona-based start-up, photosynthesis is more than just inspiration, it is a solution.
Currently in development by Arkyne Technologies, the Bioo Lite is an invention that turns plants into sources for clean, renewable electricity. By placing a panel in the soil of a potted plant, the Bioo Lite produces enough energy to chargeyour smartphone up to three times a day. Once placed beneath the soil, the panel draws an electrical charge from the photosynthetic interaction between plant, sun, and soil, and feeds it through a USB port that can fit most smartphones.
According to their Indiegogo page, the Bioo Lite can use any plant to charge your phone. More amazingly, the technology is scalable — larger panels placed beneath larger plants are capable of providing more electricity, though the exact output is not clearly stated on the company’s sites.