FollowTwo research groups at london’s cambridge university– the ‘engineering and physical sciences research council’ (EPSRC) and the ‘design in science’ project– have come together to create a table, alongside a series of product concepts, that integrates biophotovoltaic (BPV) technology. BVP devices generate renewable energy through the photosynthetic processes of living organisms such as algae and moss, in a way that scientists estimate will become a competitive alternative to solar panels within the next five to ten years.
Looking towards the future of BPV technology, doctoral candidate paolo bombelli worked with designers alex driver and carlos peralta on products that range from a ‘moss table’ that generates its own electricity for a built-in light; an array of solar panels for domestic use; and a floating biophotovoltaic generator that is designed to harvest desalinated water.
