Salt-powered lantern provides a sustainable lighting solution

Using salt water as energy, this lantern offers a cost-effective and sustainable lighting alternative for rural communities.

A new lighting alternative from the Philippines creates light using salt water. The lantern, named SALt v1.0, features two metal-air fuel cells which generate electricity once being activated by salt water. One glass of salt water can generate enough electricity for four full days of light. This is three times the amount that is currently available from technology in the market. Also, the liquid can be any mixture of salt and water; it does not have to be water from the ocean.

With over a billion of the world’s population having no access to electricity, SALt’s design offers an accessible lighting solution. SALt v1.0 is a cheaper and environmentally friendly system for communities without access to electricity. Moreover, to stay informed and help their target communities, SALt has formed partnerships with local government units, NGOs and foundations. SALt plans to deliver a target number of lanterns to various communities. These communities use traditional lighting such as kerosene lanterns, have no connections to power grids, or have only a few hours of electricity a day. To reach these targets, SALt is using the help of sponsors and donors. To support the movement, donations can be made through the SALt website. SALt’s aims within these communities propel the innovation beyond just a product and into a social movement.

In the future, SALt plans to advance the lantern’s design and be able to power a whole generator using saltwater. Such an invention may have the ability to provide power to an entire village. At USD 20, SALt v1.0 is a cost-effective lighting solution. The lantern is available for pre-order online and ships in June 2018. We have previously published other alternative energy solutions such as smart blinds that use solar energy to generate electricity. Another example is a start-up that uses piezoelectric fabric to produce electricity from the wind in subway tunnels. What other alternative energy systems can provide positive solutions?