A unique new project has seen plant energy used to power the lighting for a professional photoshoot, offering a whole new way of creating energy
The world’s first photoshoot “powered by nature” has taken place, showcasing a whole new way of producing energy. The creative project was carried out by Dutch research and design studio Nova Innova, in partnership with PEUGEOT. Specialist photographer George Williams was on hand to capture the first-of-its kind images, which will be displayed at London’s Saatchi Gallery.
So how does this new way of creating energy work? This unique project transformed ‘plant energy’ into electricity to power the lighting for the stunning night photoshoot by tapping into the natural energy plants create while photosynthesising, the stage where plants use sunlight to grow.
During this process, plants produce organic waste that gets absorbed by the surrounding soil or water. Special bacteria in these environments naturally digest the waste, which releases tiny electrons.
To capture this green power, researchers placed microbial fuel cells in the soil, which collected the energy from the bacterial breakdown and stored it in batteries. These batteries were then utilised to provide the lighting for the unique photoshoot.
Ermi Van Oers, a spokesperson for Nova Innova, shared their excitement about the achievement: “This first-of-its-kind shoot was a great way to show what’s possible with our technology. In the future, we hope this method can be scaled up to power things like household appliances and even parts of vehicles.”
They added: “It’s been wonderful working alongside PEUGEOT, a company committed to sustainable innovation, to introduce this to a wider audience.”
Creating enough energy for the shoot was no small task. The team used 30 microbial fuel cells in total, powered by a variety of natural sources: organic waste from plants, 94 litres of water mixed with 188 litres of mud, and even old coffee grounds.
Nicola Dobson of PEUGEOT shed some light on the significance of this innovative photoshoot for the brand: “The world’s first photoshoot powered by plant energy with the new E-5008 demonstrates PEUGEOT’s dedication to embracing innovation and sustainable technology.”
Nicola Dobson, a spokesperson for PEUGEOT, explained: “The world’s first photoshoot powered by plant energy with the new E-5008 demonstrates PEUGEOT’s dedication to embracing innovation and sustainable technology.”
The project comes as more drivers and consumers call for change. A recent study by PEUGEOT found that 70% of people value sustainability when making purchases, and over half (55%) are more likely to buy from brands focused on greener practices. Meanwhile, 58% of drivers say they expect car manufacturers to invest in environmentally-friendly technology.
By combining cutting-edge science with artistry, this “powered by nature” shoot highlights a future where sustainability and innovation work hand in hand – and the possibilities are boundless.
