Project by Shukhov Lab Wins Polytech Festival Open Call

The ‘Green Spark’ installation by Elena Mitrofanova and Ivan Mitrofanov, project coordinators of the Shukhov Lab, and Paolo Bombelli from Cambridge University, has been selected from 68 projects to be exhibited as part of the Polytech Festival of Science, Art and Technology in May 2018. The festival, organized by the Polytechnic Museum, will take place in Moscow’s Gorky Park.

‘Green Spark’ is a new renewable energy source, based on plants. The project uses biological photovoltaics. Special bacteria which can be found in plant roots produce electricity. They consume by-products of plant processes and photosynthesis which penetrate the soil. The installation consists of ceramic modules containing plants, where each module represents a battery. The batteries are then connected in series and parallel electrical circuits. These circuits  charge a screen which broadcasts messages and visualises the number of incoming volts.

The Polytech Festival of Science, Art and Technology will take place from 19-20 May in Gorky Park, Moscow.