Comparison Between the Citrus Fruits and Tubers as Alternative Source

of Electricity

Background of the Study

In today's modern world, electricity plays a very important role in our daily

life, as it makes life much easier for us. Living without electricity may not be easy,

especially for those who rely on it. Electricity is a type of energy that comes from the

primary energy sources and these are oil, natural gas, coal, solar radiation, wind

power and tidal power. There’s no question that most of the energy that we consume

is electricity (Endesa, 2020). However, it cannot be denied that the ongoing usage of

electricity from various energy sources such as coal produced carbon dioxide which is

a major greenhouse gas contributes pollution to the environment. Deforestation,

agriculture, and fossil fuel use are the primary sources of CO2. According to the most

recent data from Global Carbon Project, the top five countries that produced the most

CO2 are China, the United States, India, Russia, and Japan.With the world’s largest

population and one of the fastest growing economies, China is the largest emitter of

carbon dioxide gas in the world, with 10.06 billion metric tons in 2018. The primary

source of CO2 emissions in China is fossil fuels, notably coal burning. Since coal is

high in carbon, it releases a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere when it is burned in

China's power plants and industrial boilers. The U.S. is second-largest emitter of

CO2, with approximately 5.41 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in

2018. Transportation, industry and power generation are major contributors to CO2

emissions in the United States. Industry, which burns fossil fuels for energy, is

another major contributor to CO2 emissions in the United States. India is the world's

third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) and producing around 2.65 billion
metric tons of CO2 in 2018. Coal use as a source of electricity in India has risen from

68% in 1992 to 75% in 2015, according to the World Bank. Followed by Russia, the

fourth largest contributor to CO2 emissions in the world, with 1.71 billion metric tons,

and Japan is the fifth-largest emitter of CO2 worldwide, producing 1.16 billion metric

tons of carbon dioxide in 2018 (Andriy, 2021). In the Philippines, CO2 emissions

were 150.6 million tons in 2019. The Philippines' CO2 emissions increased from 25.7

million tons in 1970 to 150.6 million tons in 2019 at an average annual rate of 3.90%,

according to World Data Atlas, Philippines Environment. As a result, air pollution

from fossil fuels—primarily coal, oil, and gas—is attributed to cause an estimated

27,000 premature deaths per year in the Philippines, and can cost the country up to

approximately 1.9% of GDP in economic losses annually, according to new research

by Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Greenpeace Philippines, 2020). To put it more simply,

burning these fossil fuels as a source of energy to generate electricity causes global

warming and air pollution, both of which cause health problems and lower people's

quality of life. In line with this, the safest way to generate an alternative source of

electricity are fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables contain important vitamins and minerals human bodies

need to survive and maintain themselves properly. However, interestingly, these same

fruits and vegetables also contain a large amount of water and, thus, can in some cases

conduct electricity well. When a fruit or vegetable is connected with electrodes in a

circuit, the fruit or vegetable serves as the battery to complete the circuit. Some of

them can even power small light bulbs for a time (Sciencing, 2021). Citrus fruits such

as lemon and orange grow on flowering trees and shrubs can be found in tropical

countries. Using Citrus fruits peels and scraps as biomass substances to prepare

electrochemical energy storage leads to electrodes which have low cost,

environmentally friendly and appropriate electrochemical applications (A. Ehsani.,

et.al, 2020). According to Daniel J. Swartling and Charlotte Morgan, using copper

and zinc or copper and magnesium as electrodes, the item found to work reliably in

lemons are various LEDS, various piezoeletcric buzzers, an LCD clock, and TI-30

calculator. The same with the tuber crops such as potato and sweet potato are good

sources of electrolytes. (N.Domingo., et.al, 2014). It showed that potatoes-cells

generate electric energy 26 fold cheaper than commercially available Energizer

battery. This work presents a new energy source: safe, economic, durable and

renewable; also it can fit most applications (S. Abadalla., et.al, 2011).

Citrus fruits and tubers as an alternative source of electricity are not only

inexpensive, but also environmentally friendly. Using citrus fruits and tubers as an

alternative source of electricity is a great way to save many household money and

reduce electrical energy use in the home. In this study, we will use lemon and orange

for citrus fruits and potatoes and sweet potatoes for tubers as batteries as alternative

energy sources that can provide enough power to keep the LED on for longer.

Objectives of the Study

General Objective:

The study aims to examine the comparison between the citrus fruits and tubers

as alternative source of electricity.

Specific objective:

1. Gather and measure the actual voltage and brightness of the lemon, orange, potato

and sweet potato based on the number of samples that will be used in various trials.
2. Determine how long the lemon, orange, potato and sweet potato samples will last

as a battery source.

3. Determine the significant difference between citrus fruits and tubers.

References:

"The origin of electricity”. Endesa Energia, Endesa S.A.

https://www.endesa.com/en/blogs/endesa-s-blog/light/origin-electricity

Andriy Blokhin (2021). The 5 Countries That Produce the Most Carbon Dioxide
(CO2). Investopedia. August 28, 2021.
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/092915/5-countries-produce-most-
carbon-dioxide-co2.asp

“Philippines - CO2 emissions”. World Data Atlas.

https://knoema.com/atlas/Philippines/CO2-emissions

“Air pollution from fossil fuels a major cause of premature deaths”. Greenpeace
Philippines. February 12, 2020.
https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/press/4058/air-pollution-from-fossil-fuels-a-
major-cause-of-premature-deaths/

Amanda Ballard Coates (2018). “What Fruits & Vegetables Conduct Electricity?”.
Sciencing. https://sciencing.com/fruits-vegetables-conduct-electricity-8289020.html
 As a result, increased population means higher demand for oil, gas, coal, and
other fuels extracted or drilled from under the Earth's surface, which, when burned,
generate enough carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere to have major
consequences for our environment and the rest of the world (Scientific American,
2021).

According to the International Energy Agency, despite long-standing warnings

of a climate emergency as well as efforts by some nations to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions, the worldwide use of fossil fuels – and with it global greenhouse gas
emissions – grew last 2018. With the world’s largest population and one of the fastest
growing economies, China is the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2).
China produced 10,000 million metric tons of CO2 from burning fossil fuel in 2017.
Followed by USA, the world's largest national CO2 emitter until 2006, not until China
surpassed it and India in the third rank which relies on coal as source of electricity
(Thomas and Blossom, 2019). While in Philippines, CO2 emissions of Philippines
increased from 25.7 million tonnes in 1970 to 150.6 million tonnes in 2019 growing at
an average annual rate of 3.90%.

Although burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil is the cheapest way
to generate electricity, it is also the most hazardous to the environment. The burning
of these fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which has been linked to
serious environmental complications including global warming (Just Energy, 2021).
Apart from the fact that continued use of electricity contributes to global warming,
our electricity bills have climbed as a result of the fact that many people use
electricity in everyday lives.
Other ways of producing electricity with solar, oil, coal and others, which can
be an alternative source of electricity are fruits and vegetables. Essential vitamins and
minerals are found in fruits and vegetables, which human bodies require to exist and
function correctly. However, these same fruits and vegetables also contain a lot of
water and, as a result, can conduct electricity well in some situations. When a fruit or
vegetable is connected with electrodes in a circuit, the fruit or vegetable serves as the
battery to complete the circuit (Sciencing 2021). Citrus fruits such as lemon, orange
or sweet lime, will generate electricity when they are properly connected in a
completed electrical circuit. The citric acid and water in the fruit act as an electrolyte,
thus enabling the flow of electricity through the circuit (ScienceStruck Staff, 2018).
The same as the use of the tuber crops such as potato and sweet potato which are good
sources of electrolytes.