just plug into the dirt

note how something you don't understand,
plants "discharging" sugars back into the soil",
is considered "waste"
rather than helping the plant and building soil

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/312-16/27099-dutch-company-powers-streetlights-with-living-plants-will-your-cell-phone-be-next

Dutch Company Powers Streetlights With Living Plants; Will Your Cell Phone Be Next?

Both projects that lit up the Netherlands this month involved native aquatic plants that were supplied by local greenhouses. The process involves plants growing in modules—two-square-foot plastic containers connected to other modules—where they undergo the process of photosynthesis and convert sunlight, air, and water into sugars. The plants use some of the sugars to grow, but they also discharge a lot of it back into the soil as waste. As the waste breaks down, it releases protons and electrons. Plant-e conducts electricity by placing electrodes into the soil.


so no free lunch
robbing the soil to pay the electric bill

1 - 2 - 3 : O. K. , Im up on my soap box ! This is an excellent example of Very poor Reporting on a Science Subject ! I do not know who this reporter is ! But I do Know
a poor job was done all the way round !

Usually what happens is the in-house public relations people talk to their scientists and produce a paper that goes to the legal dept '-to protect the Co. from suits !

This modified science report is sent out as a news item to all the major news services where eventually some one who has been given a Job Title editor decides if the
is a worthy news item and who should cover the story ! Usually the editor was qualified for his job by graduating from a 2 yr Business School !

The young Reporter probably is a new graduate with a 2 - 4 year English major with no science background ! Our Young reporter after reading the First Companies
press release may, or may not call and speak with a 1st year intern at the First Company !

Then he writes up his story being sure to use any Pictures, images, or diagrams the company provided.

Then the story goes back to the 'Editor' whose mantra is all the news that fits !The Article is heavily Bowdlerized at this point !


In this article it speaks of sugar going to the roots as a waste product ! THIS IS NOT CORRECT ! The sugars are provided mostly to certain soil fungi and some few
bacteria in a Symbiotic relationship !

By interfering in this Symbiotic Relationship, some damage to both organisms is to be suspected, however this line of research should be continued at least until we
can find out if this is sustainable !

Below is a link to a Talk were you can get more information on the symbiotic relationship that provides the energy for lighting those street lamps ! Enjoy !
LINK :

https://permies.com/t/41088/fungi/Paul-Stamets-Lecture-fungi-bees

For the Good of the Craft ! Big AL !

The Earth is already the source of all electricity, we just usually entice it out with a magnetic field.

allen lumley wrote:The young Reporter probably is a new graduate with a 2 - 4 year English major with no science background ! Our Young reporter after reading the First Companies press release may, or may not call and speak with a 1st year intern at the First Company !

Pretty close, while the reporter (Ms. Schultz) is a recent English major, she is ALSO a first year intern...