Hydroelectric plants generate power by converting the kinetic energy of flowing water into mechanical energy that’s then transformed into electricity using a generator. It’s something we’re mostly familiar with for a long time now. Without that flowing movement, though, water isn’t supposed to create power, right? Turns out, it’s not quite the case as that’s exactly what Planto does.
Billed as “the world’s first water-powered lamp,” the device provides soft accent lighting much like any table lamp you have at home. The big difference, of course, is the fact that it doesn’t run on batteries or connects to a power outlet. Instead, it runs by simply adding water on the central chamber, which it automatically converts into electricity. Really.
The Planto is a small, stylish desk lamp with a sleek design that includes a shapely handle, a central compartment designed to hold water, and an included plant pot. You can leave the included plant pot empty, by the way, in case you don’t want to grow any greens, but the pot itself seems to serve as a switching mechanism that you rotate in order to turn the lamp on or off, so you need to keep it in its spot. In case you want to use it for a small indoor plant (like a mini hydrophonic garden), the design automatically hydrates the plant from the water in the chamber, while the lamp’s full-spectrum LED array can serve as a functional grow light to keep it thriving.
Of course, the plant is only a secondary reason for adding water to the lamp. Instead, this lamp uses the water you put in the chamber to power its LED lights. How? The lamp houses a module called the HydroVolt Core, which contains aluminum components that reacts to contact with both water and air, releasing electrons through a slow chemical reaction. A graphene component then captures the energy produced by those electrons and feeds it to the lamp, allowing it to light up without batteries or a wall outlet connection. The outfit touts lifetime free replacement for the HydroVolt Core, by the way, so you can swap in a new one at no cost if it ever stops functioning.
The Planto comes with adjustable brightness and color temperature, which you can change from the companion app, allowing you to tailor the light to match the mood in your space. It’s IPX4-rated, too, so no need to worry about splashes or spills when filling up the tank, making it very convenient. According to the outfit, a single refill of the water tank can last anywhere from a few days to a week, depending on your preferred brightness levels. They do note that the light will begin dimming automatically to let you know when it’s getting a bit too low on water.
When the water tank starts getting dirty, by the way, the outfit offers a HydroVolt Booster cleaner. However, they say it’s also safe to use a mix of baking soda, vinegar, and water if you have those lying around at home.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for Planto. You can reserve a unit for pledges starting at $165.
