Essay

Work in Progress!

Working title

"April 6, 2012 - Information about Biophotovoltaics coming soon!"[ https://biophotovoltaics.wordpress.com/ ]

Intro

During a course the students WdKA Spatial Design visited the exhibition "Bio Design" in the New Institute in Rottedam.[1]
In the following course one of the students has been working on the design of a paviljon for a square in Rotterdam. She discovered that the square is covered with moss. She makes the connection with the Cambridge Moss Table [2] which was on display in "Bio Design". Based on this table, she calculated that around 12 square meters of moss will be needed to illuminate the paviljon during the night. She claims the 3W/m2 is proven or just a matter of time.
The Cambridge Moss table is a collaboration between scientists and designers at the University of Cambridge. The scientist garantees the "truth" of the research, the designer helps to convey the message and convince the public. The public praises the moss table enthusiastically: "people's choice" prize 2012.

After 2011 there is no news about the claim of 3W/m2 of moss. This doesn't convince the student. Lots of forest, damp and cold are covered with moss. Suddenly this moss is generating 3W/m2, it would warm up the Earth when this was true. This argument does not convince the student.
A year later the student still firmly believes in her concept, or she formulates it differenty: if this table has been appreciated that much, I can use this principle in my design projects.
On the one hand in the past there have been severe constraints on possibilities which have been cleared by technological advance. On the other hand reasoning afterwards is much more easy than claiming what will happen in the future.
In what degree can a designer, not an expert in technology, ignore technological barriers. How realistic should a designer be? Architects have always produced sketches of buildings which were out of current possibilities.

What is the Cambridge Moss Table?

This table is designed by a team of designers and scientists at Cambridge University[ ]. It is called a prototype table and a showcase of emerging technology[ ]. Although the setup is not producing enough energy to power the lamp incorporated in the design in 2011 the technology is forecasted to be competitive with the solar cell within 5-10 years [3].

Why is the Moss Table made

The design of the moss table is a project inside a project, or a research inside a research. There is the scientific research into the possibility of generating energy from moss, and the research about the possibilities of generating interest for scientific research by using a designer:
"The moss table was produced as part of a research project called “Design in Science”, which set out to explore how designers might be able to support scientific research." [4] "Its aim is to explore how designers can play a role in early stage scientific research."[5]

About the predictions

"Currently, the moss generates about 50 milliwatts per square metre (mW/m2). Scientists anticipate that future devices may be able to generate up to 3W/m2 (Strik at al., 2011). "[6]

Calculations

The given figures or the table and moss .....

Mosstable: currently 50 mW/m2.[7]
Currently the table can produce about 520 Joules (J) of energy per day = 0.006 J/s (Watt) [8]
Predicted for moss: up to 3W/m2 = 3J/s.

In the article, these values are compared to a laptop consuming 25W (J/s).
The lamp fitted in the design table can be estimated at 10 - 25W.

Comparison with a solar cell: 5.2W [9], which is indicated to have enough power to charge your cell phone. My samsung cell phone uses 700mA at 5V for 4 hours meaning 3.5W during 4 hour is needed with an adaptor).

Comparison with a standard battery: 2000 mAh at 1.6V = 3.2 W during 1 hour.

Compare to solar power on a roof top: for Rotterdam, panel facing South [ http://solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html]
From 0.80 kWh/m2/day in January to 4.98 kWh/m2/day in June = 1.38 W/m2

But considering moss:
Why moss and not another plant? The seasonal variation, a factor 7 for Holland, is this also valied for moss, since moss gets it's energy from light.

About the calculations

Citing the numbers:
Each one (moss plant?)generates a potential of about 0.4-0.6 volts (V) and a current of 5-10 microamps (µA).[10]
In a comparable article [11] on BPV is briefly mentioned the following: "voltage and amperage were measured in all the experiments, and even though voltage was always present, no amperes were observed.".

Appreciation

"As for the rest, it was more difficult to say. There were some beautiful aesthetic pieces, like the Meridian Audio M80, the Moss Table and the Prestige kettle, which drew the eye with their innovative design." [12]

"A moss table has won the People’s Choice poll to be included in the Design Icons: Cambridge Innovation Festival exhibition at Anglia Ruskin University from February 8 to 23." [13]

What makes the moss table attractive?

The table seems to provide free energy.
The plants generating the energy are conveying the feeling of "green uncontaminated energy".
Nobody seems to suffer for generating this energy.
The energy will be creating in our home, at our table, without interference or energy companies sending a bill.
The environment is not polluted by generating this energy, nor do we need specially manufactured materials or technical complexity like very pure silicium needed for solar panels.
The temptation of the predicted 3W/m2 is huge: charging your cell phone...
The idea that these tiny lovely plants, growing in all forests will help us reduce the energy bill, even inside our homes is a marvellous promise.

Description of the Design

A design table with moss plants nicely arranged in the table top. A table light is part of the table. The legs and the frame of the table are indistinguishable from a basic camping table. The design contribution is in the way the moss plants are growing under a glass table top and the way the table light is added in the circular shape. The nicely arranged fresh moss plants under the glass are very appealing for the eye.

Critical remarks

On the internet no critical remarks about the mosstable or BPV are found. The promises from 2011, that moss will produce within 5-10 year 3W/m2 is apparently accepted. The only critical factor is time. After this table no new facts about BPV or moss are published.

The short statement mentioned above about the measured voltage without any current sis not stop the designers at all. They continued this article with very convincing graphics and every aspect of this energy generating wall was carefully reflected upon and explained visually. But what is the value of these graphical details when the reason why you make this design is apparently not functioning?

Other research on energy from plants

This research from the University of Georgia (2013) is done directly inside the photosynthesis cycle of the plant. [14]

Other articles are not found at the moment.

About conceptual or futuristic design

Technical problems seem to be insignificant, because of the enormous advance of technology on all levels everywhere. The public is not impressed by low figures of generated energy and believes the promise of 3W immediately.

Comparable Conceptual Design

Solar Fiber Comparable Design and design philosophy can be found in the solar fiber project [15]. The fact that the fibers do not capture the light in any significant amout doesn't hinder the designers to promise that you can charge your cell phone with this principle. In private communication the conviction that technology will improve the cell phones, consuming less energy, and the solar fiber (more energy) is deeply rooted.
We encounter again this "just a matter of time" argument of the student design working on the paviljon on the square with moss. The Solar bike road This project is a recent example. Calculation and current experiments show that this bike road generates half the energy of solar panels at roof tops, together with a much larger investment (special protective glass and maintenance) doesn't hinder people to firmly believe in the concept of covering all roads with solar panels.