Project Name : Energy from Reed Grass
Theme Name : Energy Resource & Conservation
The core motive of this project is to produce electrical energy using non-conventional and renewable sources of fuel. As most of us are aware that due to the overuse of fossil fuels, natural resources are depleting day by day and its vital to find the alternative source of
energy. Keeping this in mind, we have come up with the idea of producing energy from reed grass; which is an efficient green and non-conventional source of energy.
Reed grasses in particular releases a large amount of excess organic acids and sugar in the soil and when it gets reacted with micro organisms present in the soil to form electrons it produces electronic force. By using two electrodes (ANODE- graphite, CATHODE – zinc), we
have drawn out the free electrons formed in this reaction. Although the amount of electricity is less, but the critical thing is that electricity can be produced from living plants without harming them. The energy produced is pollution free and is far more efficient than other
sources of electricity production. In this process, electricity is generated both day as well as night, unlike solar energy which only produces energy during day time. In case of production of electricity from conventional source of fuel, there is involvement of recurring fuel cost. In this specific case of producing energy from reed grass, there is only one time investment, which is the cost of instruments (electrodes).
We found that a single large reed in field conditions can produce nergy upto 350 mV of electricity. This has led to the estimation that one hectare of reed grass can produce14, 000 W of electricity, enough to supply electricity to 28 households.
As the climatic condition of Assam is very suitable for the growth of reed grass and it is easily available everywhere; it seems to have a good potential to act as an alternative source of fossil fuel for generation of electricity on commercial basis particularly in rural areas where conventional grid connected power is not available.
Name of the School: Maharishi Vidya Mandir Sr. Sec. School, Silpukhuri, Guwahati
