Lima, Peru - February 22, 2025 Young Peruvian inventor Hernan Asto has created an LED lamp using electricity generated by plants, inspired by his experiences growing up in poverty without electricity in his home. Asto said he hopes his invention will provide reliable energy for communities in need. Already, the project has earned numerous international awards and grants. He has dubbed the brand Alinti, which means "sun" and "plant" in Peru's native languages Quechua and Aymara. "All we need to get electrical energy is a plant. That is the primary thing, and the second thing is an ideal substrate rich in glucose in the soil. The third is an electrode. With these three components, we can generate energy," Asto said. This groundbreaking green technology mostly happens in the ground. During photosynthesis, plant roots release organic compounds that are broken down by microbes present in the soil. This process generates electrons that are captured by the electrodes and transformed into electrical energy. Asto and his team are working on a conductive polymer anode that is more efficient and longer-lasting than a metal one. The goal is to increase the electricity generation from 15 to 60 watts per square meter. "What we are presenting to mankind is a new source of energy. Plants have served as food and shade and to provide oxygen, but with our technology, human beings can now use natural light from plants for the first time," he said. Asto's inspiration comes from a childhood in a remote village in the Andes. He grew up without electricity doing his homework by candlelight. "At the age of 14, I had a serious accident at home. The house caught fire due to the use of candles. Me and my sister Sonia suffered a very sad experience, we practically lost the house because of this fire generated by the candles," he said. From that point on, he wanted to help rural villages like his have safe, renewable electricity for lighting. "We as a team have a strong social commitment, we work with that objective. We have a lot of international proposals but first, we want to start with the rural communities," he said. The video shows: 1. LED lamp, plant 2. Various of Peruvian inventor Hernan Asto conducting demonstrative experiment 3. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Hernan Asto, Peruvian inventor: "All we need to get electrical energy is a plant. That is the primary thing, and the second thing is an ideal substrate rich in glucose in the soil. The third is an electrode. With these three components, we can generate energy." 4. Various of Asto conducting experiment, experimental apparatus 5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Hernan Asto, Peruvian inventor: "What we are presenting to mankind is a new source of energy. Plants have served as food and shade and to provide oxygen, but with our technology, human beings can now use natural light from plants for the first time." 6. Various of researchers, plant 7. Various of Asto conducting experiment, experimental apparatus 8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Hernan Asto, Peruvian inventor: "At the age of 14, I had a serious accident at home. The house caught fire due to the use of candles. Me and my sister Sonia suffered a very sad experience, we practically lost the house because of this fire generated by the candles." 9. Various of researchers working; discussing; experimental apparatus 10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish, dubbed in English) Hernan Asto, Peruvian inventor: "We as a team have a strong social commitment, we work with that objective. We have a lot of international proposals but first, we want to start with the rural communities." 11. Various of researchers working [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]