Plant-e generates electricity with living plants to power IoT devices. A sensor and transmission of the data are powered by living plants growing around the device rather than by batteries. Plants excrete organic matter in the soil, where bacteria break down the organic matter. Bacteria release electrons in that process. By applying two carbon electrodes to the soil, Plant-e harvests the electrons and uses them as electricity. The electricity produced is sufficient for powering smart lights and, following this project, several IoT applications. Our harvesting solution can be deployed in any environment like agricultural land, wetlands, or tropical forests.
This way the use of unsustainable batteries is avoided, reducing the amount of waste that is produced. With over 12 billion IoT devices in use worldwide and an expected growth of the market of 10x in the next 10 years, avoiding batteries would avoid the accumulation of 66 milion tons of chemical battery waste. In turn the device is powered by living plants through unique and sustainable technology. By making use of natural processes around the plant-roots, electricity can be generated while the plant keeps growing. This leads to the only known carbon-negative energy technology in the world.
Plant-e delivers plant-powered lighting and remote sensing. The power-source uses power generated by living plants, thus delivering a very long lifetime of the power-source and the product as such.
Plant-e has developed three types of products based on the same vertical implementation of their core technology, leading to a general platform stick that can be deployed in any type of soil for powering lights or remote sensors. During the project the power-source was improved and both lighting and IoT remote sensing devices were further developed into standardized products.
Plant-e’s lighting stick is now marketed as “Nature Inclusive Lighting”; a product that fits smart cities around the world for low-lumen lighting meant for social safety. These lights derive their power from nature and don’t interfere with biodiversity, which leads to them being truly nature-inclusive.
Plant-e’s remote sensing products focus at water management for urban green through soil moisture monitoring and water level and temperature monitoring for remote wetlands. While the sensor is fully integrated with the power-source, the system is extremely robust and durable, leading to a maintenance-free system that fits remote locations perfectly. Moreover, the full integration with a satellite connection enables us to send data from all over the world, even when a local network is not available.
