London Tackles Air Pollution with New “Biosolar Leaf”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.2 million deaths occur every year as a result of exposure to outdoor air pollution and 91% of the world’s population lives in places where air quality exceeds WHO guideline limits. In London alone, a study commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London in 2015 found that nearly 9,500 people die early each year due to long-term exposure to air pollution.  

To combat this, the Imperial College London teamed up with biochemical tech startup Arborea to test out a “world first” “biosolar leaf” technology that is capable of doing “the work of 100 trees, while only using the surface area of one” IFLScience.com reported.

According to Arborea’s website, they’ve “developed the world’s first ‘BioSolar Leaf’ cultivation system which harnesses the natural photosynthesis in a completely new way….[facilitating] the growth of microscopic plants to produce healthy food ingredients, all while generating breathable oxygen and sequestering high amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), a major contributor to climate change.”

Unlike the world’s first living bionic chandelier, also designed and developed by Arborea founder and CEO Julian Melchiorri and currently on display in London’s Victoria & Albert Museum, these panels use natural sunlight and are infinitely scalable, allowing crowded cities to utilize existing rooftop space rather than attempting to accommodate additional panels.

“Air pollution is one of London’s most urgent challenges, and Imperial is committed to finding sustainable and resilient solutions to this threat,” Professor Neil Alford of Imperial College said. “This collaboration with Arborea is an exceptional opportunity to showcase the power of Cleantech.”