Japanese inventor develops micro-power system that generates electricity from soil, wine, and bread

Japanese designer and engineer Satoshi Nakagawa is drawing attention with a “micro-power harvesting” system based on generating very low levels of electric current from everyday materials such as soil, compost, wine, and bread. It is reported that in Nakagawa’s test site in Japan, hundreds of LEDs are powered by energy provided from wooden boxes filled with soil and compost.

The 72-year-old Nakagawa, CEO of the design firm Tripod Design, acknowledges that the method he developed will not be a standalone solution to the energy problem, but he values the ability of people to generate small amounts of electricity from materials around them. Nakagawa emphasizes that as the world population approaches 10 billion, the issue of energy will become as critical as food.

The foundation of the system is based on a principle similar to the voltaic pile developed by Alessandro Volta in 1799. Electrodes such as zinc and copper are placed into substances containing moisture or ions; small but continuous electric currents are collected through these electrodes.

CAN BE USED FOR LOW-ENERGY DEVICES

It is reported that in Nakagawa’s glass-covered “Ku-An” test laboratory in the town of Hitachi-ota, 800 LEDs are illuminated with energy obtained from 1,500 wooden boxes filled with soil and compost. In another setup nearby called “Lu-An,” it is stated that more than 2,000 plastic cylinders are used to generate approximately 100 watts of power, which is enough to operate some small devices such as a rice cooker.

According to Nakagawa, the technology could be useful, especially in off-grid and low-energy applications. It is noted that it could be used in sensors that monitor pests, overflowing rivers, landslide risks, and theft attempts in agricultural fields or in regions where electricity is cut off following natural disasters.

The inventor argues that the system does not produce carbon dioxide after installation and, unlike renewable sources such as solar and wind, it is not dependent on weather conditions. However, experts point out that the power obtained is quite low compared to current battery and accumulator technologies.

Masayuki Nakao, a retired engineering professor from the University of Tokyo, states that Nakagawa’s work is aesthetic and thought-provoking but remains limited in terms of practical use. According to Nakao, the true impact of these projects lies in their visual power, which makes people rethink energy production.

Despite the criticisms, Nakagawa says that it is necessary to research the areas where micro-power can be used. The Japanese inventor is of the opinion that evaluating different energy harvesting methods together could be important for future energy strategies.