WHAT’S BEING CLAIMED:
- Glowee intends to use bioluminescence technology to redesign the urban landscape, and cut light pollution and energy consumption.
- Rambouillet in France transformed into a bioluminescence experiment that is starting to replace streetlights with bioluminescence lights.
- Bioluminescent light could still not compete with the streetlights today, but because it is carbon-neutral, more and more are investing in developing this technology.
The proposed solution to increasing light pollution and energy consumption is bioluminescent technology. This is according to Glowee, a French startup.
Rambouillet in France transformed into a bioluminescence experiment that is starting to replace streetlights with bioluminescence lights. This project put up bioluminescent tubes containing bacteria that produce a blue glow at night.
“Our goal is to change the way in which cities use light,” Sandra Rey, founder of Glowee, told BBC. “We want to create an ambiance that better respects citizens, the environment, and biodiversity—and to impose this new philosophy of light as a real alternative.”
There is a problem that others point out. Bioluminescent light could not compete with the public lighting used today, as it only produces about a quarter of the minimum required.
This is missing the point, said Rey. This project with bioluminescent microorganisms could cut light pollution and energy consumption, and offer the chance to reimagine what public lighting could be.
The bacterium with bioluminescent properties is called Aliivibrio fischeri. This microorganism produces a gentle blue light and is found in different marine environments, but for this project, the bacteria were collected in France.
To sustain the bacteria in a small tube, estimated to produce 15 lumens, nutrients and oxygen are supplied into a luminous aquarium. The bacterium produces luciferase that produces light in the presence of oxygen, making this the key component in bioluminescence. To control the light, there is a mechanism that circulates oxygen. Turning this mechanism off (stopping oxygen circulation), turns the light off.
Glowee falls short of the minimum requirements for street light illumination specified in EU legislation by 75%. It is, however, possible that this product could soon meet these requirements with increasing support from different institutions.
BBC reported EU shelled out €1.7 million for the development of this carbon-neutral technology. Rambouillet City Hall entered into a partnership with Glowee and offered €100,000 with the main goal of redesigning the urban landscape using bioluminescence technology. Paris Innovation Grand Prix in 2015 agreed to turn their town into a “full-scale bioluminescence experiment” and offered €12,000 for the development of the technology.
There is a long road ahead for bioluminescent technology. Glowee has announced 40 city-lighting projects in different European cities, but there is still much to be done. Research on bioluminescent technology is ongoing. Other scientists introduced luciferase into fungi and tabacum plants, hoping to develop a bioluminescent organism that glows bright enough to replace streetlights.
Source: Good News Network
Good idea if it works.