“On November 23, a researcher from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Marjolein Helder, presented her Ph.D. research on a method to generate clean, renewable electricity from natural interactions between the soil and growing plants.
Plants produce such enormous quantities of organic material from photosynthesis that they actually excrete 70 percent of it, unused, into the soil by their roots. This provides important nutrients for bacteria and other soil organisms. When bacteria metabolize this organic matter, they release electrons into the soil. The premise of the Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell is that electrodes placed close to the roots of plants can absorb these electrons and use them to generate electricity, much like a battery.
Helder’s tests indicate that the Plant-Microbial Fuel Cell can generate 0.4 W of electricity per square meter of vegetated area, more than biomass fermentation is currently capable of. Through further refinement of the technique, Helder predicts that its power generating capacity could rise as high as 3.2 W per square meter. This level of power generation would enable the average household to be supplied entirely from the power generated by grass planted on a 100 square-meter roof.”
Read the entire article for free at Natural News
In colder climates including an indoor green space along the southern face might bring some year round benefits once the technique is refined and available.
That’s a good idea. And the extra heat from the greenhouse could help heat the house.
could a poly tarp can work also ? is cheaper..
Please explain more.
Wow!
I knew there must be a way to generate power organically.
Owen,
You say there is fairly high cost in green roofs, can you explain? Seems like they would be low cost. Just wondering ..
The cost will be high if you follow the recommended green roof guidelines. Green roof architects and organizations recommend special commercial products for waterproofing and drainage. Plus, the extra weight requires a sturdier structure that has to be engineered.
However, some people in non-code areas simply add a layer of bituthene rubber over the roof deck, sometimes straw and then sod or another waterproof layer and then sod. This approach would be far less expensive, but still bithuthene costs around $1,000 for a tiny house.
This would make living roofs (green roofs) more economical. Still, there’s a fairly high cost.