An experimental study of generating electricity from urban tropical forest plants

Abstract

Coal is a fossil energy source that is still dominant in the generation of world electricity. The use of this energy source causes environmental damages and pollutions. Coal mining causes irreparable damage to land, water, and natural resources around the mine. Exhaust gas emissions from energy generation with coal fuel contribute 44% of total global emissions. Alternative energy sources that can be renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly (green) need to be developed to reduce and stop environmental pollution. This research was conducted to explore alternative energy sources that are green, namely the source of electrical energy from living plants. Research on the generation of electrical energy from living plants has been widely carried out and gives satisfying results. In this study, the living plants studied were urban tropical forest plants so that the electricity generated could be used for lighting or sources of charging batteries for electronic devices or electric vehicles. The generation of electrical energy is carried out on each tree by using different electrodes combinations that work according to the principle of the Voltaic cell. The results showed that the combination of the gold-zinc electrode (Au-Zn) produced the highest voltage of 750mV in the sengon tree. The electric voltage generated in each tree species varies according to the combination of the electrodes used and the distance between the two electrodes. Experiments carried out on seven tree species and three combinations of electrodes produced an average electric voltage of 325.6mV. This voltage can be used to charge a 5V battery by connecting 20 cells serially.