Damp soil contains bacteria that give of a electric load. Copper/zinc electrodes, like the plates in a normal car battery, absorb the electrolytes. While the different metals react with each other they amplify the electric current. By connecting the positive pole to the copper and the negative to the zinc plate Marieke provides energy for a electric clock or a LED bulb.
So simple, the only thing you need is damp soil, and that is around in many places in the world, just like everyone needs food, growing in soil and in need of water. Also a great solution for rural and developing areas.
Together with environmental consultants and engineers of Tauw, Marieke is improving the method. How big should the electrodes be? How long are the bacteria staying active? How many bacteria per soil content? And maybe in the future there might be soil garden lamps and soil streetlighting.
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