This Outdoor Lamp Is Powered By The Soil It’s Planted In

American designer Milú Brunell has unveiled an outdoor lamp called SOLI, powered by a novel energy source: soil itself. 

Using the nascent technology called microbial fuel cell (MFC), the lamp uses a battery that gets its power from organic compounds that break down, and create electrons. 

The lamp includes a place to water it, which serves two purposes. It gives the lamp a sense of purpose, and also improves the soil health, which will in turn make the lamp shine more brightly. 

The design and technology helped Brunell win a number of innovation awards for this technology, which sounds like it has many potential uses yet to be explored.

See more of Brunell’s work on her website. 

Images © Milú Brunell. 

“SOLI is an outdoor lamp powered by the vitality of the soil beneath it, designed as a symbol of care, reciprocity, and connection. 

At its core is a microbial fuel cell (MFC), a system that generates electricity through the natural metabolic processes of microbes in the soil. 

As these microorganisms break down organic matter, they release electrons, which are captured by an anode and flow through a circuit to a cathode, creating a small but steady current, just enough to power the lamp. The healthier and more biologically active the soil, the brighter SOLI glows.“