As one of the most abundant crops in the world, potatoes could potentially be used to feed the entire world. Along the way, scientists discovered that the popular staple of many people’s diets may also have potential to help power our electronics as well.
A couple years ago, Haim Rabinowitch, a professor of science and agriculture at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, found a unique way to use potatoes as an energy source. Rabinowitch and his team figured out a way to transform a potato into a surprisingly powerful battery.
“Potatoes were chosen because of their availability all over including the tropics and sub-tropics,” Rabinowitch said. “They are the world’s fourth most abundant food crop.”
Their finding was that a potato boiled for eight minutes can make for a battery that produces ten times the power of a raw one. It should be noted that the potato itself isn’t an actual energy source. The process involves using a sliced potato and placing it in between a copper cathode and a zinc anode that’s connected by a wire.
Professor Haim Rabinowitch and his team wanted to prove that this system could be used to provide rooms with LED-powered lighting for as long as 40 days. At around one-tenth the cost of a typical AA battery, a potato could potentially supply power for our cell phones and other personal electronics.
Using potatoes as a source of energy can be even more advantageous for individuals living in poor, underdeveloped and remote regions who don’t have access to a power grid. Considering that potatoes are one of the world’s most abundant food crop, this is an amazing advancement which can supply power for everyone.
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