Bio-Electricity, sustainable alternatives of electricity
Electricity production is an energy intensive process that also takes a heavy toll on natural resources. Even today, a large proportion of electricity is produced by consuming non-renewable fossil fuels. This is also the cause of the release of harmful pollutants into the environment and causes land, air and water pollution.
Attempts are currently being made by scientists and technology companies to produce electricity in an environment-friendly manner compared to fossil-fuel intensive methods of electricity production. In this article, we’ll talk about bio-electricity being produced using natural biological processes.
Glowee, a technology company, has produced electricity from biological processes that occur naturally in bio-luminescent bacteria. The scientists and technologists at the company applied genetic engineering techniques on these bacteria to increase the lightness and duration of light produced by them.
Thus far, they’ve been able to produce a bio-luminescent lamp that produces light without using energy. They have also scaled up the production of this energy saving electrical product and it’s ready to be used as an alternative to old fashion electric lamps.
In a similar attempt, Bioo, another tech company, is looking forward to drawing electricity from natural biochemical processes in plants. Although complete details of the process haven’t been disclosed, the process is most likely based on plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC): an advanced form of fuel cells that uses living plants to generate electricity.
With the ever-growing necessity to conserve non-renewable natural resources, it has become imperative for us to look for more renewable and eco-friendly sources of electricity.
Apart from the works and efforts of the companies mentioned above, several other innovative and environmentally sustainable electricity production methods have been proposed and are currently being used in different parts of the world. This includes electrical energy produced by converting the energy of tidal waves and production of electricity via biofuel made from organic matter.
Switching to sustainable alternatives of electricity is a collective responsibility and all of us must work together to substitute traditional electricity with bio-electricity if we want to inhabit a pollution free planet.
