Innovation Ideas/Diamonds

Plant-E (WUR)

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Innovation Profile

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short description
Plant-e develops products in which living plants generate electricity. These products are based on technology that was developed at WageningenUniversity, which was patented in 2007. The patent is now held by Plant-e. The technology enables us to produce electricity from living plants at practically every site where plants can grow. The technology is based on natural processes and is safe for both the plant, and its environment. 
 
Via photosynthesis a plant produces organic matter. Part of this organic matter is used for plant-growth, but a large part can’t be used by the plant and is excreted into the soil via the roots. Around the roots naturally occurring micro-organisms break down the organic compounds to gain energy from. In this process, electrons are released as a waste product. By providing an electrode for the micro-organisms to donate their electrons to, the electrons can be harvested as electricity. Research has shown that plant-growth isn’t compromised by harvesting electricity, so plants keep on growing while electricity is concurrently produced.
 
For more information on the technology and recent publications see: www.plantpower.eu
campus full address
Wageningen UR, hoofdgebouw Droevendaalsesteeg 4 6708 PB Wageningen the Netherlands
country
Netherlands
contact person/researcher/expert
Marjolein Helder
key words
plants, electricity
creator of profile
Klaas Metselaar
email contact person
klaas.metselaar@wur.nl
institution(s)
Wageningen
visibility of the part "ii innovation profile"
Public
origins of the idea
Research institution
spatial scale
Higher scale (region or above) / society
primary use of project
Mixed use
sectors of innovation
Air, Energy, Biodiversity
upscaling potential
Higher scale (region or above) / society
type of innovation
Technical, Agriculture
innovation status
Commercial Products
time to market
0 – 1 years