2022 Edition

Yerva is an ambient and reading lamp designed for the home and workspaces. It is charged with the energy produced by the plants. This energy is then transformed into light. The lamp is powered only by the energy released by the plants. Plants produce organic matter through photosynthesis which is then expelled into the soil and oxidized by the bacteria that live around the roots, thus releasing electrons. Electrons are then attracted to the anode placed in the ground and the potential difference with the respective cathode generates a flow which is collected in a capacitor inside the vase. These absorb water from an internal wick that carries it upwards from the saucer, which at the same time acts as a water reservoir. The lamp is charged wirelessly when placed on top of the pot and gives visual feedback to the user. Yerva is integrated with a website that can be consulted from any device with an internet connection. After introducing the conditions in which the plant will live (exposure, average temperature, …), the user will be advised the ideal plant based on the habitat and preferences entered. The energetic production was calculated based on temperature, inclination of the sun’s rays at different latitudes and on the type of photosynthesis that the plant  performs. The modest energy production (0.4 mW/m2) also depends on the square planted area; for this reason, resorting to vertical farming reduces dimensions enough to make Yerva suitable for indoors. OLEDs were chosen as they work with a minimal amount of energy, do not generate heat and are not damaged by touch.  The global energy demand is increasing as a result of the continuous growth of the world population and the energetic production is inflicting serious damage to the environment and human health. The development and use of technologies capable of producing energy from renewable sources is essential to avoid an energy crisis and P-MFCs (Plant Microbial Fuel Cells) could, in the very near future, support the energy needs of the average family.