We know the stress humans are putting on non-renewable energy sources of our planet. This is causing researchers to strive harder in generating power through renewable energy sources like solar, wind, tidal etc.?
However, Solar isn’t the most effective in all locations as it only works with strong sunlight and in open areas.
However, now, a researcher has developed a new way to generate electricity, with the help of rotten fruits and vegetables. The technology makes use of a new material called AuREUS that is capable of absorbing stray ultraviolet rays and transforming them into?renewable energy.
The tech was developed by a 27-year-old engineering student Carvey Ehren Maigue from the Mapua University in the Philippines. Now you might be wondering how in the world would rotten vegetables help in generating energy. Well, certain kinds of fruits and vegetables are known to possess luminescent particles.?
The scientist has managed to extract those particles and turn them into a resin substrate. So when UV rays are absorbed by the material those particles absorb and re-emit visible light.? And in the same setup, Maigue has also placed photovoltaic cells that help generate electricity.?
For this creation, Maigue has also been awarded the James Dyson Award in the sustainability category. What’s cool about this new technology is that the material can be powered by scattered UV lights too and don’t need to face the sun, unlike conventional solar panel arrays.?
This setup will not only help generate renewable energy but also do that while decomposing organic garbage and making something useful out of it.?
Maigue says, “We need to utilize our resources more and create systems that don’t deplete our current resources. With AuREUS, we upcycle the crops of the farmers that were hit by natural disasters, such as typhoons, which also happen to be an effect of climate change. By doing this, we can be both future-looking and solve problems that we are currently experiencing now.”
Isn't this a great way to upcycle agricultural waste? We need more such innovations to solve some of the most pressing problems of our times, no doubt.