Would you believe me if I told you we will soon be able to light up our cities with marine organisms?
As surprising as it may seem, this is not a joke. This is the solution proposed by Glowee, a French biotech startup that uses the natural phenomenon of bioluminescence to reduce electricity consumption and light pollution.
Sandra Rey, former ESCP graduate and current president of the National Design Council, founded the startup in 2014, drawing inspiration from nature to offer energy-efficient, non-polluting and calming light, allowing us to live in more sustainable cities. Many organisations, including MIT, the European Investment Bank, and the Nobel laureate for the World Expo, awarded this disruptive project. This recognition has allowed Glowee to grow as a pioneering environmental biotechnology startup.
But what exactly is ‘bioluminescence’? How can our cities take advantage of it?
You’re probably familiar with fireflies or glowworms, but they’re not the only insects that produce light. If you didn’t already know, about 90% of marine organisms are bioluminescent! It is when observing this phenomenon that Glowee found a solution to build a more responsible and liveable world. The startup has since developed technologies enabling them to cultivate and reproduce the light-emitting bacteria within these organisms in their laboratory.
In order to produce the brightest lights for our urban landscapes, the bacteria samples are carefully selected according to their light intensity. Then, they are raised in an aquarium where they will grow and proliferate until a population capable of illuminating large spaces is obtained. Once mature, the bacterial colony can be placed in a translucent container and installed in the urban area we want to illuminate.
What are the advantages of this innovative biotechnology?
While this solution is not yet widely known, it is very promising for a few key reasons:
It is an inexhaustible resource. The bacteria used by Glowee are infinitely cultivable!
It reduces energy costs. These bacteria only eat sugar! We can therefore say goodbye to the electricity expenses for lighting.
It reduces our ecological impact. Bioluminescence makes it possible to use fewer resources and release less CO2 into the atmosphere, while at the same time limiting the damage of light pollution on animals and plants.
It provides a non-aggressive light. Bioluminescence is a “cold” light, which is less visually polluting than our current light technologies.
Finally, Sandra explains that, in addition to being very calming, this organic light produces 100% organic waste that can be neutralized and recycled, unlike conventional lighting systems.
Go check out Glowee’swebsite for more information on bioluminescence and to follow their current projects.
- Mathilde Noels, Press Associate
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