- Carmen Maya Posta
- Feb 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 19
How can plants change our future? Producing electricity by harnessing the interaction between bacteria and plant photosynthesis is possible, and here’s how.
The source that sustains all living beings on Earth is carbon, more specifically, carbon dioxide (CO2) found in our atmosphere.
Photosynthesis in Plants
The production of biomolecules begins with processes driven by the Sun, the largest generator of renewable energy on the planet. The bright star radiates electromagnetic waves across the atmosphere, and a small portion of this energy reaches photoautotrophic organisms, which, through photosynthesis, produce substances for their sustenance and for heterotrophs.
In the photosynthetic process, the first light phase allows the plant to intercept, with the help of the chlorophyll pigment, a specific wavelength of sunlight called PAR (photosynthetically active radiation), which activates the production of energy by "exciting" electrons, which then move and return to their original place. This electron movement causes the release of energy, which the plant transforms into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH molecules) for use in the second, dark phase.
During the dark phase, CO2 enters the plant through openings in the leaves called stomata, and it is transformed through a series of chemical reactions into oxygen and simple sugars, like glucose, using the high-energy molecules created during the first phase.
The following formula summarizes the process:
CO2 (Carbon dioxide) + 6 H2O (Water) + Light → C6H12O6 (Glucose) + 6 O2 (Oxygen)
Once the reaction is complete, the plant distributes the resources (carbon), directing them to cellular respiration and the production of the various organs that make up the plant (leaves, stem, and roots) according to the needs it has in its environment. The remaining excess is released into the soil to nourish heterotrophic organisms living in the soil.
Generating Electricity with Photosynthesis
Bacteria in the soil carry out a series of essential activities to maintain the soil’s characteristics, which are crucial for plant growth alongside other physical factors. Therefore, they play a very important role—not only in the ecosystem of the plant's microenvironment but also in the development of a revolutionary idea that could change our energy supply forever, if applied correctly: generating electricity through photosynthesis.
This hypothesis might sound like it comes from a science fiction book by Asimov, who, by the way, imagined many events that later came to pass. However, deriving energy from photosynthesis is no longer a product of imagination, as research, experimentation, and prototype development have turned it into reality.
All sources are based on the same principle. The plant performs photosynthesis, and the excess glucose is absorbed by the bacteria. This step generates an electrochemical potential in the microbial metabolism, where electrons move, producing energy. This energy can then be captured by structures embedded in the soil that function as electrodes.
Plantalámparas, Plant-e & Bioo-Lite
The first experimental models were simple school projects started in some high schools in South America, with low energy efficiency. The next step was taken by UTEC — University of Engineering and Technology of Lima, Peru — where a group of students and researchers created Plantalámparas, a lamp powered by plant energy. They were able to provide light to remote populations in the Amazon, quickly improving their quality of life.
Another project is Plant-e, a spin-off that collaborates with the ‘Environmental Technology of Wageningen University’ in the Netherlands, which involves the self-assembly of modules designed to produce electricity through photosynthesis. Unfortunately, the performance is still insufficient. Meanwhile, the most advanced model at the moment is Bioo-Lite.
A collaboration between Arkyne Technologies and three Spanish university students, Rafael Rebollo, Pablo M. Vidarte, and Javier Rodríguez. Through an online crowdfunding campaign, they managed to obtain the necessary resources for the subsequent development of the project.
During this crowdfunding, the first examples of potted plants were sold, which allow for charging a cell phone with the help of a USB cable up to three times a day, with a power output of 3.5 volts, equivalent to a computer's USB port.
The future prospects are promising, as it is expected that 1x1 meter panels will be created, capable of generating between 3 and 40 watts (28 KWh – 280 KWh per year). Therefore, 100 square meters of surface area, depending on the plant species used, will be sufficient to provide the necessary energy for a hypothetical average household.
What Does the Future Hold?
A large number of students, professors, and PhD candidates are conducting similar research in Italy, Spain, India, America, China, France, Germany… All are driven by curiosity and the desire to create an economical and eco-sustainable solution for tapping into new renewable energy sources like this.
Imagine the beautiful cities of the future, full of plants that will provide us not “only” with oxygen and nourishment, but also all the electricity society needs.
📝 Thank you for reading! I originally wrote this article in Italian and Spanish, the first for the “Scienza Online” newspaper on November 8, 2017; and the second for “Agenzia di Stampa UE” on November 28, 2017. It was later revised and published on “Laici” on June 4, 2024. You can find it on these platforms, with links to the Italian and Spanish versions: