These Mad Scientists Want to Replace Solar Panels With Potted Plants

These Mad Scientists Want to Replace Solar Panels With Potted Plants

These Mad Scientists Want to Replace Solar Panels With Potted Plants


The scientists are researching the potential of photo microbial fuel cells, or photo-MFCs, which are essentially potted plants that act like miniature power plants and transform sunlight into electricity that can power iPads. They aren't as efficient as traditional photovoltaic solar cells, but are more eco-friendly to manufacture.


The result is a sound system comprised of ten photo-MFCs housed in a frame meant to evoke the feel of a biochemistry lab. It looks like a science experiment, but Felder's biophilic boombox can generate enough power to play a short song. The array and a hidden capacitor can only power the radio for a few minutes at a time, and listening to an entire baseball game would require hundreds of plants, but she's still bullish on the potential of truly green energy. "Give the researchers a few more years and it will all change," says Felder. "But despite these little steps forward, the breakthrough we’ve had with the radio is not to be underestimated."

>"I like the idea of getting closer to nature again–to use it in ingenious ways, without exploiting it."


"On a small scale I think we could soon-ish convert people’s normal houseplants into little power-generators for charging phones," says Felder. "On a large scale, especially outdoors, the right mix of plants will be crucial and that will need more research, both in terms of plants and irrigation systems, maintenance, etc."


"I like the idea of getting closer to nature again and to use it in ingenious ways, without exploiting it," says Felder. "I am a designer by trade, but a scientist at heart."